Dubai
The saying so near, yet so far, could not hold any truer for Delhi Daredevils’ new recruit Laxmi Ratan Shukla. The former India player, who featured in three ODIs in the late 90s, is now 32-years-old, but as another former and more illustrious compatriot Sourav Ganguly remarked recently, the current Bengal skipper is still in with a chance of making it to the India team given his all-round displays in the domestic circuit this season.
The former U-19 World Cup star still remembers the controversial moment when he was dropped in favour of Ashish Nehra in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo in the Asian Test Championship in 1999, this, even after his name appeared in the 11-member squad that flashed on the electronic scoreboard at the ground.
“Honestly I have no regrets regarding not being able to play that Test match. It is a regret the selectors will have to live for the rest of their lives for not picking me,” Shukla, on his maiden visit to the UAE, told XPRESS.
“Right now, though, my sole focus is the Indian Premier League and performing well for the Delhi Daredevils (DD),” he added.
Shukla, who played the first six seasons of the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was sold to DD for Rs 15,000,000 (Dh914,129) during the IPL 2014 auction when the KKR management decided to let go of the all-rounder after DD outbid them.
“This is a good change for me. I am the only genuine medium fast-bowling all-rounder in the side, so I fancy my chances of being a regular member in this edition of the IPL. The DD management has shown a lot of faith in me and the time has come to repay it. I played only three matches for KKR last season before being sidelined by knee injury, but I am fit now and raring to go,” he said.
The Delhi outfit has several international stars in the team including coach Gary Kirsten, skipper Kevin Pietersen and the likes of Ross Taylor, Quinton de Kock, J P Duminy and Wayne Parnell and Shukla, who won the IPL title with KKR in 2012, believes DD have the side to win their maiden IPL title.
“It looks a nice, balanced side packed with performers. I have had team talks for the last few days with Kirsten and Pietersen and it’s been very good so far. Hopefully, we can convert our ability on the big stage,” he said.
DD play their first match against Bangalore Royal Challengers in Sharjah on Thursday.
