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Madhya Pradesh v Orissa, Pre-quarterfinal, Indore, 1993-94Making my Ranji Trophy debut was a dream come true because as a child, I always wanted to start with first-class cricket. I had just finished playing Under-19 cricket and had had a good season. I scored a double-hundred, two centuries and an 80. On the basis of those performances, I was selected for the Ranji Trophy that year.I had previously captained the U-17 Indian team that went to England and had also represented India at the U-19 level. That year was massive for me because I was batting really well. The selectors told me that they were keeping a close eye on me and asked me to continue doing well. Luckily, that year, I got the chance.I was training with the school team when I got the news. Amiya Ray, who was my senior, congratulated me, saying I had been selected. I was very excited as I was hoping I would get through that year in Ranji Trophy. Ranjib Biswal was the captain at the time and he gave me the cap. It was a great feeling. Both Ranjib and Amiya were from my club and I had been training with them for a long time.More than nervous, Id say I was excited. My captain said its a bit different from U-19 but asked me not to change anything and just enjoy the four days, so I just trusted my technique and ability. I had the confidence because I knew even if I failed, the management was going to back me.When I walked out to bat, there were three slips, a gully and a short leg. I dont think they sledged me, but when you are making your debut at 17 or 18, there will obviously be a lot of noise around. It was just a matter of taking that out of your mind and focusing on the ball; I had been through a similar phase in the U-19s as well. So I had to focus really well for the first 10-15 balls. Once you get through that phase, you know what to expect from the bowlers and how the wicket is behaving. The outfield was barren and really quick, so I knew once I timed the ball, it would race away to the boundary. All I had to worry about was spending time at the wicket.I remember Narendra Hirwani was playing for Madhya Pradesh and I was excited to play against a Test player. They had an experienced attack that had been doing well all season. At the Ranji level, bowlers hit consistent lines and good areas, so it was a matter of playing them out.I was batting well before I got out in the first innings. It was a short ball, outside off-stump, and I tried to play a backfoot drive to a spinner. The ball spun a bit and I edged to the slips. It was not a ball to get out to. I was disappointed not to get runs because the pitch was really good. A couple of seniors came up to me and said there is nothing to worry about.But, luckily, I did really well in the second innings. The key was to get a good start again and break down the innings into installments of 10 runs. I remember batting with Sushil Kumar, who was a very jolly guy. He was cracking jokes and calmed me down a lot. After crossing 15-20 runs, I knew if I stayed around for two-three more hours, given that it was quite humid and hot, the bowlers werent going to bowl long spells.When I scored my 98th run, they brought the field up. There was a forward short leg, a backward short leg and a silly point. The ball I got out to was well outside off stump. I offered my pad, but it came back in before brushing the flap and lobbed onto my stump. I was shattered to have missed out on the century. But I told myself that I had at least got to bat these many number of overs and had played well.I could not make the next match (quarterfinal against Maharashtra) as I had to appear for my exams. Those days, the Ranji Trophy was a big deal for us and getting into the side and competing against the best players in India was a big deal. And I was lucky to have had the great senior players of our side around -- Ranjib, Amiya, Prasant Mohapatra - when it happened. To get an opportunity that early in my career helped me a lot.As told to Akshay Gopalakrishnan Darnell Bing Jersey Online .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Cheap Jerseys 2020 . PETERSBURG, Fla. https://www.cheapjerseysatwholesale.com/jerry-noonan-jersey-online/ . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Josh Whitman Jersey Online . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Keith Woodside Jersey Online . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Karnataka v Hyderabad, Hubli, 1992-93I got into the Karnakata team in 1992-93 after performing well in the local leagues. The Ranji Trophy debut came in my hometown, Hubli, where I used to practice, in December 1992. From 1983 to 1993, I had rigorous travel from Gadag to Hubli for 40 miles. I used to get up at 3.30am, catch a train at 4, reach Hubli at 6, practice, and then go back to school.I will never forget AK Industries where I was taken care of and trained. I spent a lot of time at Nehru Stadium in my younger days and luckily I made my debut at the same ground. I was very fortunate to have my family - my mom, my brother, sisters, friends - at my home ground for my debut. Those ten years of hard work gave me an opportunity.The buzz ahead of the match was that I had a chance but there was still a question mark because Raghuram Bhat was also there in the squad. It was a tough call for the management. Raghurams fitness was a concern, so I was the back-up. It was a doubtful start for me, I did not get any hint that I will debut. As soon as K Jeshwant was going for the toss, suddenly he said: Sunil, youre playing.That time I was just giving some knocking to one of our opening batsmen - PV Shashikanth. After hearing the news of my debut, there was a smile on my face. There was a little bit of nervousness too, but more than that I was happy I was making my Ranji debut at my home ground, where I practiced all those years. The comfort of family and the home ground pushed the nervousness to the back seat.I still remember the first ball I faced. I took my guard and Arshad Ayub was bowling and the wicket was a slow turner. But when I went forward for the first ball, it went over my head for wides, and the keeper was also beaten. After that I got my fifty, then after that I never looked back. I ended up getting 83 not out, hitting Arshad Ayub for five towering boundaries. Luckily my good friend Venky [Venkatesh Prasad] was there during that partnership. He got out in the end, otherwise, maybe I could have reached three figures. Or maybe not. Who knows?We got 500-odd runs and unfortunately the match got stopped after the second day because of the Ayodhya riots and curfew. We did not come to the ground after the second day. We got the news that the match was called off, and as soon as we left the hotel that night, we went to Bangalore. We were taken very well with the police escort aand security.ddddddddddddThat incident actually rocked the whole of India.At the back of my mind, I did feel little disappointed the match was cut short, but, nevertheless, I started on a positive note. Not many players will get 83 on debut. In the end, I was very pleased with my performance. Jeshwant, K Srinath, who got a hundred in that match, supported me well.I also got to share the dressing room with Syed Kirmani, Rahul Dravid, and Venky. I went on to have a great relationship with Kirmani. I got my first hundred against Bombay at the Chinnaswamy Stadium with him. Kirmani and I had a great partnership of 240-odd runs. I think somewhere it is still in the partnership records for the seventh wicket for Karnataka. Ravi Shastri was leading Bombay at that time. I was on 99 one over before lunch and I tried to sweep a ball. Kirmani came up to me and said: Joey, just hang on, just one over to go for lunch. Just play a single, you dont need to get a six for the hundred. The next ball was bowled on the leg stump, I just flicked, and got to a hundred. I was fortunate to also see Kirmani keeping for me during my career.I played with Rahul in junior cricket, Ranji Trophy, and we shared the dressing room in international cricket between 1996 and 2002. His focus and consistency somewhere rubbed off on me and I wanted to have a longer career in domestic cricket.With Venky I bonded more because he was my room-mate from age-group cricket and then during various stages. Venky himself was a great player and he motivated me. Before my debut match, Venky, R Ananth, and K Srinath came to my home and I remember having a typical North Karnataka jowar roti meal with them.Then my second match was in Chennai. Kris Srikkanth was back with Tamil Nadu after the Pakistan tour. I think he didnt have a great tour there and he was out of form. But he got a hundred, and then I got him out. My first wicket was a Test captain, or a former captain I could say. It was a great first wicket to start with. I did face a tough time against the best batting of Tamil Nadu at that stage. But it felt great to have Srikkanth, that too Kirmani caught him at slips.I went on to play 117-odd Ranji games, and the most important thing is I always looked to get better.As told to Deivarayan Muthu ' ' '