Baroda all-rounder Swapnil Singh believes getting picked by KXIP was the best thing that happened to him

For Indian cricketers to know that they are going on the right path, success at the domestic level is a big indicator. To toil and shine in something as rigorous as the country’s premier domestic tournament, the Ranji Trophy, is an achievement in itself. To be able to recognize that and continue it in other domestic tournaments is the other step in knowing that you’re headed for something special.

One such cricketer who realizes that is Baroda all-rounder Swapnil Singh. With 565 runs and 20 wickets in six matches, he made his presence felt in the domestic circuit this year.  In an interaction with CricTracker, he speaks about a personally good domestic season, his plans for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the IPL 2018 auction and his time with Kings XI Punjab.

He admits that it was the best Ranji season for him personally. He brought up his maiden ton with a score of 164 against Mumbai. He also scored 144 against Tamil Nadu, helping Baroda end the Ranji season with a win. He picked up a wicket in every match but his five-for against Odisha is what one will remember.

On being asked how he felt being a major contributor to the team with both the bat and the ball, he said, “It felt good after I worked so hard and it paid off. In the off-season also we played so much, and if the season goes well even personally, you feel good about it. You see that it’s working so it feels good.”

Experience with KXIP

He was a part of the Kings XI Punjab last year and though he didn’t play many games, he looked promising. For the 26-year-old, the time spent with KXIP has helped him enhance his approach outside IPL as well. “It is a great learning experience. Getting picked by KXIP was the best thing that happened to me. You get to learn a lot with all the great players.”

He sheds light on what the IPL experience has given him to take away even outside the tournament- the experience, the knowledge and the rapport with Hashim Amla.

“When you sit with people like Hashim Amla, David Miller and Virender Sehwag, you get to know how they carry themselves. They have helped me with the mental approach of the game, both Hashim bhai and Viru pa. That has clearly helped me and improved my approach in the game,” he said.

“I’m close to Hashim bhai. He guides me in the off-season as well, through calls and all. It’s a great feeling.” he added.

Focus on Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

The all-rounder has developed a bond with the team he represented but doesn’t have any expectations with regard to the IPL auction scheduled later this month because he is of the opinion that a good performance is what will bring him results.

With the Syed Mushtaq Ali scheduled right before the auction, it gives the uncapped talents a platform to showcase their skills and catch the eye of the franchise selectors and team management. On being asked about it, he said, “Definitely, it is the right time and I feel it is the right platform. It is the biggest T20 tournament of our domestic cricket. Every franchise will be looking at it.”

Swapnil himself has a special record to his name in the Syed Mushtaq Ali in 2016 when he picked up the second best bowling figures of the tournament with his 6 for 19. Rightly, his focus at the moment is to perform well in the T20 tournament and do well for the team and then look at what comes next.

“I’m not expecting anything right now, just focusing on Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and then see from there and hope for the best.”

“One can’t replicate the exact performance, but something close to it. I will try to give my best and that’s the only thing we can do as of now. In T20s, you can’t think about picking a five-for but it will come eventually if we stick to the plan,” Singh concluded.