Bhubaneshwar: Debasish Mohanty was the first cricketer from Odisha to don the national colours. Even though he could play only two Tests and 45 One-Day Internationals, Mohanty has left behind a legacy rich enough to inspire generations of cricketers in his home state.
Mohanty, a right-arm medium-pacer, came into recognition in the 1999 World Cup in England where he finished as the second highest wicket-taker for India. Though there is nothing to write home about his Test career, Mohanty has impressive figures in the ODI format, picking up 57 wickets at an average of 29.15 in 45 matches.
Mohanty, who coached the Orissa Ranji Trophy side post retirement, says the difference in the quality of the domestic and international cricket is huge.
Excerpts from the interview:
Your performance in the 1999 World Cup is still fresh in the memory of cricket fans. You were the second highest wicket-taker for India behind Javagal Srinath. How was the feeling?
I received a call-up to the World Cup side at the last minute as I was not in the original list of probables. Ahead of the World Cup, I had performed well in the Sahara Cup bilateral ODI series held in Toronto. The pitches and conditions were more or less similar in England.
My World Cup debut was against Kenya in Bristol after India lost to South Africa and Zimbabwe. That match is remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s emotional hundred which he scored immediately after returning to the team post his father's demise. I picked four wickets in that match. However, my most cherished memory of the 1999 World Cup is the thrilling win against Pakistan at Old Trafford, although I could not take any wicket in that Super Six encounter.
After you, Shiv Sundar Das and Sanjay Raul, no player from Odisha could make it to the national team. What could be the reason?
What I observed during my stint as the Odisha Ranji Trophy coach is that there is no dearth of talent in my state. But what hinders the players from achieving big is the lack of passion to pursue their dreams and excel at the highest level. There is a huge gap between domestic and international standard. The transition from being a Ranji Trophy player to an international cricketer is not easy.
You have snared the wickets of some of the greatest batsmen of your era like Saeed Anwar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Aravinda de Silva. It seems you enjoyed bowling against the best in the business...
I think it happened purely by chance. It was during the initial years of my international career when I bowled without any game plan or strategy. I had just one thing on my mind and that was to bowl and take wickets. Being an opening bowler, I had the chance to bowl against the some of the greatest top-order batsmen and get them out.
You also picked up all 10 wickets of an innings in a first class match...
That too was incidental. It was a Duleep Trophy match against South Zone, which featured the likes of Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman, at Agartala. I had claimed seven wickets before lunch. During the break, captain Shiv Sundar Das came to me and asked whether I wanted to continue bowling. My answer was that I needed some rest. It was then the skipper reminded me of the possibility of picking all 10 wickets and advised me to give it a try. And that was exactly what happened.
You have been to Kerala several times. What are your memories?
I have fond memories of Kerala. I have played in Kochi. Recently, I was in Krishnagiri (Wayanad) with the Odisha Ranji Trophy team. Tinu Yohannan and S Sreesanth are my good friends. Tinu was my roommate while we were at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. Another Keralite with whom I maintain a good relation is former Kerala Cricket Association president A Salim, who was the manager of the Indian team for the Sahara Cup in Toronto.