Sport - Cricket

Goswami has been a revelation

Chennai: Among the few gains for Royal Challengers Bangalore from a difficult season has been wicket-keeper batsman Sreevats Goswami.

Goswami sparkled in the clash against Delhi Daredevils, both with the bat and the big gloves. A top-order batsman, he is a good timer of the ball and appears to have sound basics as a ’keeper.

A key member of the World Cup-winning India under-19 team, Goswami is someone with possibilities. He says playing in the IPL has been a huge “learning experience,” for him.

“Seeing cricketers like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble around you and learning from them has been awesome. You share the same dressing room, share ideas. Growing up, they were my heroes,” he says.

He reveals Mark Boucher has been giving him useful tips — “He is a great ‘keeper and has helped me, both technically and mentally.”

During his long wait before gaining a place in the Royal Challengers XI, Goswami had several sessions with Boucher. In the game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday,

Goswami kept well to Anil Kumble, quite a test for a young ’keeper.

“Honestly, I did not keep wickets to him much at the nets. I relied on my eye, reflexes and anticipation. It was a good experience,” says Goswami.

He admits these are times where a ’keeper cannot rely on his work behind the stumps alone. “I focus a lot on my batting,” he says.

About Royal Challengers’ display in the Indian Premier League, he says, “We have a good bowling side. We lost a few close games. Last game, we batted quite well but did not bowl as well.

“There are still three games left and we will give it our best shot.”

The young man, Man of the Match on Tuesday, would want to deliver in a winning cause.

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