Arzan Nagwaswalla has emerged as a notable wicket-taker for Gujarat in first-class cricket, amassing an impressive tally of 97 wickets from merely 25 matches, maintaining an average of 24.5. These statistics suggest that he could potentially fulfill India’s quest for a left-arm pacer in the longest format.
Nagwaswalla’s talents have not gone unnoticed by the Indian selectors, as he has been previously enlisted as a support bowler. He had been eagerly anticipating a breakthrough season in the Ranji Trophy for 2022/23, but fate had different intentions.
Unfortunately, Nagwaswalla’s aspirations were cut short due to an elbow injury that limited him to a solitary match against Tripura. This setback was emotionally challenging for him, and he shared his sentiments during an exclusive conversation with Sportskeeda. He described the difficulty of coping with the situation and how he found the motivation to stage a strong comeback.
He acknowledged, “It was a challenging phase in my career because I had performed well in white-ball domestic tournaments and was optimistic about my prospects in the Ranji Trophy. The Ranji Trophy holds significant importance for players like me.”
Nagwaswalla added, “Our cricket world revolves around it, and missing out after just one match was deeply disappointing. Feeling disheartened was natural, but I quickly accepted the reality that my season was over. I realized that unless I focused on proper rehabilitation, I might jeopardize the following season as well.”
Despite the adversity, Nagwaswalla’s inclusion in the West Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy proved to be a silver lining. He perceived the injury-induced hiatus as an opportunity for personal growth and a fresh perspective on the sport.
He remarked, “I didn’t make many technical alterations due to time constraints. The transformation was more mental. During my rehabilitation, I visualized my comeback and maintained unwavering faith in regaining form. This constructive mindset aided me, and I was thankful for the chance to engage in competitive cricket. The injury had ignited a strong desire to play again.”
Nagwaswalla’s triumphant return to the pitch was marked by a stellar five-wicket haul against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinal, which significantly contributed to West Zone’s advancement to the final.
Reflecting on this achievement, he shared, “We analyzed the lengths Central Zone’s bowlers were targeting, noticing that bowling stump-to-stump and maintaining a length of 5.5 meters produced favorable deliveries. The opportunity to participate in the Duleep Trophy despite a limited presence in the Ranji Trophy felt like a blessing. My focus was on simplifying my approach.”
Presently competing in the Deodhar Trophy, Nagwaswalla has once again demonstrated his prowess with a commendable performance of 3/31 in the opening game against North East Zone. This continued exhibition of his skills reinforces his determination to make a lasting impact in the cricketing arena.
