Zol ready to go a step further

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After leading India colts successfully in Australia and Sri Lanka, Vijay Zol is ready for the big test. The 18-year-old Maharashtra batsman has showed sublime form at the junior level and now wants to carry it into the India A team.
The left-handed middle-order batsman scored back-to-back centuries (173, 128) against Sri Lanka A in the recent youth Test series and two half centuries (76, 67) in the one-dayers.
He also amassed 293 runs in five games during the tri-series in Australia including a century (128) against New Zealand besides a half-century (64) against the hosts in Darwin.
Zol has been included in the India A Test squad led by Abhishek Nayar against the touring New Zealand A side. He is yet to play a first-class game.
“I am happy with my form. I hope to carry it to India A team,” Zol told this newspaper from his home in Jalna district, after returning from Sri Lanka.
Zol’s side won the bilateral three-match youth one-day series (2-0) in Sri Lanka after drawing the two-match youth Test series (0-0). Earlier, they had won the tri-series in Australia.
“Captaincy was a new responsibility for me. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It became easy as every player knew his role well and performed accordingly,” Zol said.
He credited the team for a good show abroad.
“It was a good experience in Sri Lanka and the conditions were good. Unfortunately we didn’t win the Tests despite coming close once but we are happy to win the one-day series. Our hard work paid off.
“Credit goes to the whole team and the support staff. The same holds true for the tri-series in Australia,” he said.
Zol was also part of the Unmukt Chand-led India Under-19 team that won the World Cup in Australia last year. “I didn’t perform well in the last World Cup. I just scored 50 against Papua New Guinea and 36 against Pakistan.
“Now I want to make amends in the next World Cup in the UAE. I am working hard around with coaches at the Maharashtra Cricket Association and looking forward to the big challenge in Dubai,” he said.
The young batsman was optimistic about the future of India colts. “We have a very well balanced team. Everyone is working hard and that’s why we came back home unbeaten,” he said.