Dasgupta confident of handling dual job
India's first innings centurion Deep Dasgupta on Tuesday said his maiden Test century, against England, has given him the confidence to continue with the dual job -- that
of the opener and the wicketkeeper -- in future.
Dasgupta, who overcame a sluggish start to score a fine
100 to help India put up 262 for 3 in the first innings on
the second day of the Test in Mohali, said he would not find it
difficult to carry out the dual job.
"It is not difficult to do both... I am confident I can do
both," he told reporters.
Dasgupta, who opened the innings because first choice
Sanjay Bangar had sprained a leg muscle, said he was just
aiming to see through the new ball to make things easy for the
other batsmen, but in the process became only the sixth Indian
wicketkeeper to score a hundred in a Test match.
"I think I have done my job. Now it is for the other
batsmen to ensure that a good total is in place," Dasgupta
said.
"The feeling of scoring a first century has not sunk in yet,"
he said, and added that the 63 he hit in South Africa in
the second Test at Port Elizabeth had probably come under more
challenging circumstances. That innings had played a vital
role in saving the Test for India.
The young wicketkeeper, playing only his fourth Test
match, said the experience he gained on the tour of South
Africa had helped him a lot.
"The first time I played well, we could save the match
against South Africa. Now that I have hit a century, I hope we
would be able to win this match," he said.
Dasgupta said the wicket was playing easy and though all
the English bowlers were tight he did not find much difficulty
in negotiating them.
"(Rahul) Dravid kept helping me out in
the middle and I gained in confidence."
He denied he lost his wicket because of a lapse in
concentratiion after touching the magical three-figure mark.
"It was this sharp incoming ball which was responsible for my
wicket and there was no lapse in concentration," he said,
adding he was mentaly prepared to face the second new ball
even after completing the century.
He was all praise for his coach Sunita Sharma (of SAI,
Delhi) and attributed his success in international cricket to
the skills acquired under her.
Meanwhile, the centurion's mother, Krishna Dasgupta, who
travelled all the way to see her son play in Mohali, said she
was elated after her son's performance.
"It is his first Test in the country and he came out as
per my expectations in the first innings," the beaming mother
said.
She said she had spoken to her son in the morning to give
him "all the encouragement".
Images from day 2 of the first Test against England
Mail Cricket Editor