Introduction:
HS15 have been the underdogs of the Prem Ranjan Tournament ever since their first year. But last year they pulled off a magnificent victory against the Ph.Ds to reach the finals, only to lose by a heavy margin against the mighty HS14. Their victory over the Ph.Ds has a lot of say about the nature and attitude of the HS15 batch. That Dhoni style knock by Vimal which helped them seal their victory was something which came as a pleasant surprise to the cricket enthusiasts of our department. Their commitment and undying interest in the sporting arena of our Department is something that needs to be emulated by every other team. Despite not having many high achievers in the team, HS15 players have shown that interest and dedication to the game can actually bring victories. Their commitment extends to the great support they get from their other non-playing batchmates, which for other batches is only seen to be decreasing with each passing year. It is the final chance for the HS15 batch to clinch the Prem Ranjan Title, and we are all excited to see how they perform.
The Team:
HS15 has also been very unlucky, with key players like Deva getting injured at crucial points. Even this time around Deva was injured with a fracture, and their captain Aswin is not available to play. It is now upto to the other players of the team to take the charge and lead their team to victory. Players like Avinash and Vimal have a lot to carry on their shoulders – they have been part of the Department Team as well, and they know how to handle match situations. Other players like Melwin, Bitthal, and Karnalius have immense potential to shift the fortunes at any point of the game. That blistering knock by Karnalius two years ago against HS16, speaks volumes about their untapped potential. Melwin too has the power to be destructive against a good bowling attack. Rathnika is a good batswoman, who is capable of scoring a few runs. Shweta was one of their bowlers last year, and with a little improvement, she can pick a wicket or two and can heavily restrict the runs being scored. The girl players of HS15 have in the past practiced almost as regularly as their male counterparts in the team. This is very important as their game can completely change the outcome in any match.
The bowling has always rested on the shoulders of Aswin and Deva, who are two keys players in their batch. With Aswin not being around this time, it is completely upto Deva, to see that he can pick two or three crucial wickets of their opponents. Deva can be an extremely difficult bowler to bat against, but coming from an injury and his lack of practice this time, the impact that he can create is doubtful. But on a good day, Deva can be unstoppable.
However, the two things which always put HS15 in the backfoot is their lack of consistency and the knack to play intelligently during critical points of the game.
Players to Watch out for:
Avinash is a promising all rounder. His bowling has improved greatly, thanks to the practice sessions that were organised meticulously the previous year. His line and length are on point, but his lack of good pace will make him vulnerable against good and clever batsmen. His batting is decent, with good stroke plays and a strong off side game.
Vimal is another player who can be of great value to the team with his impeccable fielding. His batting, although not very sound, will be useful to put up a good total. He is very careful in his approach and can maintain his cool even during tense match situations.
Final Thoughts
Overall, HS15 is a decent team with good talent, but how they will play on that given day will be critical. Their league matches will be played against relatively easy teams like HS17 and HS18, so an intelligent game play should be looking at how they will tackle good bowlers like John and Akhil and exploit the others.
Hence it is now upto their new captain, Deva who will be crucial in making decisions to put all their players to a good use.
Article by Sai Chandan Kotu
Article 19 