Interview: No dearth of talent in Odisha, says Odisha and IPL player Biplab Samantray

Odisha has always been in the news for the wrong reasons, while Odisha cricket has rarely been in the news. After Debasish Mohanty and Shiv Sunder Das, there has been no one in the national reckoning. The team’s performance in the past few seasons has been dismal. But this season is a welcome change for the team and a quarter final berth looks quite a possibility.

The team, with two outright victories and no losses, has performed beyond expectations.One of the key contributors to the team’s success is Biplab Samantaray. With four fifties and one hundred, coupled with crucial eleven wickets, he has been the key factor in the team’s success. His 89 and 4/34 against Maharashtra earned him the ‘player of the match’ award.

Although Haldhar Das was the first player from the state to play in the IPL, it was the two innings of Biplab (39 and 55) for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2014 edition that caught the imagination of the entire state. He was also a part of the Deccan Chargers team.

After making his Ranji trophy debut in the 2010 season, he was made the captain in 2014, but after a string of low scores, he was dropped from the side. He made a thumping comeback in the subsequent season, becoming the highest run-getter for the team.

Hailing from Cuttack, Biplab is hardworking and soft spoken, and epitomises the Odia culture perfectly. Representing a state which has no ‘Godfather’ to push him to the national team, he relies upon his performance to take him to his destination. Whenever despondent, he seeks the advice of Debasish Mohanty, the incumbent coach.

As compared to the last few seasons, the team has done really well under the new captain. What do you think is the reason behind the success?

If you look at the past few seasons, our batting had let us down on several occasions. This season, the openers are doing a great job for us. They have been providing a solid start and building a solid foundation for the middle order batsmen. The key to posting a big first innings total is to put a high price on your wicket, which our batsmen are doing this time.

You are batting at no. 6, Don’t you think a player of your calibre should be batting at no. 3 or 4?

Firstly, it’s a very young side. The players are young and are still learning. Gobind (captain) and I are probably the senior most players in the team. I believe no. 6 is a very crucial position as you need to take the pressure and responsibility. Also on many occasions, you are expected to bat with the tail. Hence you need to be experienced and that’s why I thought I would take that responsibility for the team.

How do you manage the transition from four-day games to T-20?

We play non-stop cricket throughout the year and across all formats. It becomes imperative for us to mould our game accordingly. Sometimes it becomes a challenge when you are scoring adequate runs, but the demands of modern day cricket make us match fit.

What is your take on fitness in a gruelling season, when the gap between the games is so minuscule?

In the modern era, fitness cannot be condoned at any cost. Our whole perception towards fitness changed with the advent of Mr. Ramaraju. He came up with innovative drills and made us realise the nuances of being super fit. Our current trainer, Manoranjan Biswal has carried forward his legacy. We follow a fixed dietary program during match days and non-match days.

Our training schedule is fixed for the entire year. The sports academy at Barabati Stadium acts as rehabilitation centre too. The introduction of young blood in the team has forced the seniors to work on their fitness seriously.

Haldhar Das was the first Odia in the IPL, but it was you who actually made a mark. Share us your experience.

The IPL experience was mind boggling. Sharing the same dressing room with your idols was great. All the greats like Sangakkara, Dale Steyn were very helpful and humble. You could approach them at any point of time without any inhibitions. I got to learn a lot from these greats, both as a cricketer as well as a human being. Also contributing to the team’s success was tremendously satisfying. My two innings of 39 and 55 helped the team to notch up two crucial victories.

You shared the room with legends of the game. Share some funny stories with us.

I would say all of them were highly accessible. They were ready to help you out at any given time. We lived like a family for those two months and used to hang out together all the time, poke fun at each other and pull each others’ legs. It was a great medium of cultural exchange for all of us. Sangakkara was extremely funny.

Coming back to Odisha cricket, playing for the country is an absolute rarity. How do you motivate yourself not to give up?

There have been two test cricketers from the state. Whenever we feel despondent, we look up to them for inspiration. One is my coach and one is the director of the academy. Hence they are on my speed dial. To be honest, the probability of representing the country may be less, but that doesn’t bother me much. The only thing that I can do is score heavily in the domestic circuit; that is in my control. I have no control over the exogenous factors.

Throw some light on the state of Odisha cricket in terms of infrastructure.

There has been rapid improvement in terms of infrastructure. A lot of investment has been done in terms of grounds, turf wickets, etc. The academy at Barabati stadium has excellent facilities. I always believed that there has been no dearth of talent in the state, but we were lagging behind in terms of infrastructure and professionalism.

Soon things are changing. The players and the support staff are more professional as well as aware these days. The influx of youngsters in the team has also made a huge difference. Our skipper Gobind Poddar is doing an excellent job.

Ranjib Biswal has been in the high echelons of the Board; there is still inadequate representation of Odia cricketers in domestic tournaments like Duleep trophy.

According to Mr. Biswal, Odia players don’t have what it takes to play for India. That is his opinion. But I believe, if you keep performing at the domestic level, you will get your opportunity.

What is your take on Lodha committee recommendations? If the recommendations are implemented then Mr. Ashirwad Behera, who has been running the show, will have to quit his post?

Frankly speaking, I haven’t gone through the details of the recommendations. Hence it won’t be appropriate for me to comment on this. But there is a lot of negativity surrounding this issue, which is unwanted.

What do you do when you are not playing cricket?

I have matches throughout the year. Hence whenever I get some free time, I prefer to spend time with my family. I love homecooked food made by my mother.