Winning games for Maharashtra keeps Bawne going

Like every other cricketer, Ankit Bawne, too, dreamed of donning the India cap, when he started his domestic career. But 19 years and 8,327 First Class runs later, the Maharashtra batter has made peace with the fact that he may not break into the Indian team.

But that doesn’t stop him from piling up runs, year after year. After a slump in form in the Ranji Trophy, the 33-year-old has bounced back in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 154 runs in three innings, and hopes to keep the momentum going against Mumbai Saturday.

“Every year, I come with the same excitement to score runs and win games,” he told Sportstar. “I like batting, I like winning games for my State, and that gives me happiness. I don’t complicate things, in terms of where to reach, where to go, what’s my destiny.”

A few years ago, while leading India-A, Bawne had a long conversation with the then coach Rahul Dravid, which changed his perception about life. “Rahul sir told me that there’s anyway a cut-throat competition, and if you put yourself in that race, neither can you enjoy life, nor cricket. And, that’s when my whole perception changed,” he said. “I took Rahul sir’s words seriously, and that’s why I have been able to score runs regularly, because I am mentally sorted.”

In his long career, Bawne has had stints with India-A and West Zone, and those experiences have taught him to stay in the present. “The match ends at 5 o’clock. And, that’s when one should switch off. If I keep being stressed about my game, I will never be able to be happy. So, the goal is to be happy. And, cricket gives me that happiness,” he said.

Bawne added that his aim was to win the Ranji Trophy for Maharashtra.