Sport

Balaji back with a bang

Chennai: After peering down long, unlit stretches, Lakshmipathy Balaji can now spot motes of sunshine. A match-winning five-for and a hat-trick before home crowd apart, his infectious smile is back.

The comeback man was the cynosure at Chepauk on Saturday. The lanky Balaji bowled a mean full length off a high-arm action, altered his pace and sent down short-pitched balls of steepling lift that forced the batsmen to take evasive action than provide them with width for the horizontal bat shots. Crucially, he was an ocean of calm under pressure.

For Chennai Super Kings, he was the toast. For Kings XI Punjab, he was an unkind blast from the past.

A stress fracture of the lower back haunted Balaji for two years. A return to domestic cricket in 2007 had to be aborted mid-way since the pain came back. Now, the 26-year-old paceman is buzzing again…against all odds.

The bowler with 27 Test wickets and 34 ODI scalps is not celebrating as yet. “My comeback was when I bowled my first ball after undergoing surgery in 2007. Right now I am going through the process, learning more about my body and my bowling. I am happy to be bowling again and everything else is a bonus,” he told The Hindu, here, on Sunday.

He has remodelled his run-up and action; his run-up, leap, and follow-through appear more refined. Here, Balaji acknowledges the contribution of Tamil Nadu Ranji coach W.V. Raman.

Reveals Raman, “I stressed gradual acceleration. He is now running in straighter and his hips and shoulders are aligned as he releases the ball. He has a chest-on action but it is his body alignment that is a lot more important. Previously he was running in at an angle, actually slowed down as he neared the crease and delivered from a past side-on position. This put his back under a lot of strain.

“Now, he is following through straighter. Balaji still needs to work on his non-bowling arm. But all credit to Balaji. He has shown tremendous will-power during a testing phase. The TNCA has stood by him.”

The paceman, rated high by former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for his late outswing, can bowl quicker. If his body holds, Balaji will be a bigger threat.

Concedes Raman, “I was never nervous about myself during my playing days. However, during the two games he has played in the IPL so far, I have been nervous.”

An affable man, Balaji will neither be short of goodwill nor prayers. His has been a compelling journey of belief and courage. Glory beckons.

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