Who said Twenty20 is all about going after the bowlers and slamming sixes. For dashing opener Bharath Chipli, it is all about meticulous planning and this ensured him success in the second edition of the Karnataka Premier League.
“Our coach Dodda Ganesh planned everything for us. We trained at Mandya for more than a month before the season. We used simulating match situations and that’s the reason, why we were successful this year,” said Chipli, one of the architects of Mangalore United’s title win.
After their forgettable first season, the former Mangalore United skipper was eager to bounce back with a better show in the KPL-2.
“We finished sixth in the first year. We had a good team, but we failed to perform. I’m very happy that we won the title this year,” added Chipli, who garnered 222 runs in eight matches.
Being one of the seniors in the batting line-up, the seasoned batsman gave complete credit to the bowlers for their achievement. “If you don’t have a good bowling attack and pile up 200 runs on the board, it is of no use. For us, senior bowlers like S. Arvind, Udit Patel, Aleem and Asgar bowled their heart out. It was all because of them, we won the tournament,” said the Swastic Union cricketer.
En route to the final, Chipli along with captain Rohit Sabharwall were involved in a 138-run record partnership for the first wicket against Shamanur Davangere Diamonds in the first semifinals. “We supported each other well. Picked the right deliveries and scored runs. It wasn’t just about going after every bowler,” explained Chipli.
The right-hander, who played his last Ranji Trophy game against Tamil Nadu two years ago, feels the double ton against Social Cricketers in the KSCA Group I, I Division league, got him into the scoring rhythm. “I didn’t score in the first five games. After I got the double century, it gave me confidence and I took it as a stepping stone. After that I scored in most of the matches,” he added.
With the Ranji season starting next month, Chipli is keen to do well for the state if he gets picked. “The preparations are on. The team did very well last year, entering the final. Like every season, this year too there is lot of competition for a place in the squad. I’ll just wait for my chance and will give it my best shot,” said the 27-year-old who is also a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore side.
The alumni of Vijaya College, Chipli was quick to praise his wife Shruthi Shetty for her support.
“You can call her my lady luck. From now on, I just hope for the best,” he concluded.