JOIN USAs soon as he late-cut Sagram Atitkar to move to 101 from 97, Ganesh Satish set off for a wild celebration of his sixth first-class ton. It was uncharacteristic of someone who is not given to dramatics.
But then this was no ordinary moment. One of the senior members of this young Karnataka outfit, Ganesh, who once even captained the team, had been left out of previous four outings after just two half-centuries in six matches and the right-hander had been hurting.
“I think it will be tomorrow... Once we take the lead, it will be (the most important knock of my career),” said a content Ganesh after his unbeaten 117 put Karnataka in command of the Ranji Trophy final against Maharashtra here on Thursday.
“Obviously, a little disappointed when I was left out,” he pointed out. “So, I made up my mind that when I get the opportunity, I will make full use of it. There were a lot of team-mates and my parents who backed me and believed in me. That constant support was really helpful.”
The 25-year-old was reprieved on a few occasions during the course of his knock, including when he was only on six. “Yeah, everybody needs a little bit of luck. I think today was my day and just worked out that way. My plan was to just watch out. Initially, they came hard at us and they bowled in good areas and (Samad) Fallah was moving it both ways so there was a conscious effort to play out one spell and runs will then come.’
His 213-run association with KL Rahul (94 batting) has left Maharashtra with only a lead of 75. “It was very enjoyable,” he said of partnership with Rahul. “We played from junior level... We played together in under-22 and we have played a lot of innings together. So that helped,” he said while adding that Rahul was down with a little bit of fever last week and from which he is yet to recover fully.
Ganesh agreed Manish Pandey’s diving catch to dismiss Shrikant Mundhe and A Mithun’s inswinging delivery that accounted for Ankit Bawne were crucial moments. “I think Ankit’s wicket was a very crucial wicket and after that spectacular catch (by Pandey). He’s done it before like in the last final (against Mumbai in 2009-10). He’s capable of such brilliant catches.”