Sakyasen Mittra
An elucidate brain leads to a clarity of thoughts, goals, ambitions and desires. One can plan and progress correctly with a hindrance-free mind. It is this quality that makes Govind Poddar – Orissa’s most successful batsman in the last season – stand out. He speaks clearly and is not afraid to express his views.
It is for this reason that he doesn’t want to call any of his three centuries this season against Vidarbha, Maharashtra and Karnataka, ‘memorable’. “No those knocks did not help the team win. The innings of 77 that I got against Assam on a seaming track helped the team win outright. So I would call that my most memorable knock till date,” points out the unassuming character.
The word cricket and batting brings a glint in his eyes. Here is one person who can talk hours on the game, his batting and that of his experiences. ‘Express yourself’ is his motto in life and he does that with aplomb – both off and on the field. The steam dies down over cups brimming with ‘Cappuccino’ at the CCD opposite Ram Mandir, but Govind’s excitement about the game that he plays with passion and love never does.
“I owe it all to Harmohan Praharaj… he is the man who made me. He always used to tell me ‘Govind go and express yourself in the middle, cricket is more a mental game than anything. So just be mentally clear when you play the game’. I’ve always done that and today whatever success, I have achieved is because of the advice given to me by Harmohan Sir,” points out the lithe but strong Govind.
His under-15 career started way back in 2006 when he made hundreds a habit. Govind has an interesting tale to narrate which happened then. “I was playing a trial game at Cuttack and was caught bat-pad, but the late Sumit Bose who was officiating gave me not out. I was about to walk but he snapped ‘Have I given you out. I am the umpire’. I went on to score a big hundred in that game and since then there has been no looking back,” informs the dapperly-dressed Govind.
His under-19 exploits in 2008-09 made him a very familiar name in Orissa cricket. It was a season in which he scored over 800 runs and the selectors and those who matter in Orissa cricket recognised his potential and soon he was knocking on the doors of the senior squad.
“There was a trial game before the 2010-11 season team selection. The Orissa Ranji Trophy side played against the promising players – mostly under-19 cricketers. People like me, Biplab (Samantray) played in that game. I got a century while Biplab got a 70-plus score. After that game the then senior team coach Manas Ray told me that I would be batting at No. 4 for the senior side. It felt all surreal, I felt blank for a moment,” states Govind.
But the mind was not blank when he took the field November 1, 2010 against Baroda at the Barabati Stadium. After Baroda had been dismissed for a cheap score in the first innings and Orissa were not too happy at 23 for two, Govind walked in. He batted fluently to score a Ranji Trophy century on debut – the fifth from the state to do so. “Definitely a moment to cherish, a moment to be remembered for life,” informs Govind while taking a walk down memory lane.
The century was all the more special for him because it reposed the faith that his family had in him. “My family… my mother (Rekha), father (Bhaktaranjan) and elder brother (Prasenjit) always told me to play without any inhibitions. I am really indebted to them for being able to achieve whatever little I have done,” states Govind.
“I grew up in Rourkela and when I told my mom that I want to pursue cricket seriously she was the first to support me. Even if I fail in a couple of games, my dad always tells me not to worry while my brother, who was one of my greatest competitors in my childhood, never tells me much but I know he is always there by side. It is this support that has helped my career flourish,” adds the batsman.
Talks once more return to on-field action as the discussion progresses. Govind, who has scored 555 runs in the Ranji Trophy this season however, is unhappy that he couldn’t score more. “To be frank, I had set myself a target of 700-plus runs,” said Govind who also became the first player from Orissa to hit five sixes in an over in a T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy game earlier this month against Maharashtra. This season he will have a higher goal as he believes the bigger your ambitions are the closer you get to achieve those.
Govind also has IPL dreams because he feels that he has the clarity of thoughts to play in the shortest format. “Everyone feels that the 20-over format is all mind-boggling hitting. But I follow Suresh Raina’s advice where he states ‘give the first 12 balls to the bowlers and then the rest is yours’. I can be successful in all formats,” he asserts. But then he is also quick to point out that he really did not expect to be made skipper in the T20 format this season. “Frankly, it was unexpected,” he informs.
Govind should be ready for a future where much is expected of him. One of the correct technical players in the side, Govind is expected to lead the Orissa batting in the days to come, like his idols Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar did in their heydays. Best of luck, Govind.
