At 31 years of age, Paras Dogra is a senior campaigner in the Himachal Pradesh team by virtue of having been around for about 15 years in first-class cricket. But talk to him about the seniority and the batsman says that he plays like a youngster. It is with that combination of enthusiasm and responsibility that he has helped the team make their presence felt in the domestic circuit. With two double-centuries in the 2015-16 season of the Ranji Trophy, he was instrumental in the team’s success which kept them in the fray for a place in the knock-outs until the last match of the league phase. Scoring prolifically, Dogra scored 703 runs at an average of 78.11 and a healthy strike rate of 75.10 in eight matches this season. However, the mainstay of Himachal’s batting line-up said that it was only in the last two-three years that he has actually matured as a batsman. While speaking to bcci.tv, Dogra retraced his journey from Delhi to Himachal and his state team’s rise in the domestic circuit, who have qualified for the semi-finals in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. Excerpts from the interview: How did the journey start? My father used to play cricket and he showed us the way. He brought us to Himachal when I was around 14-15 years old. So I have been playing for Himachal from the beginning of my career. I played for Himachal since Under-16s and my brother from Under-19s. I started off as leg-spinner, but then I used to bat as well. I used to bat down the order for the U-16s, then in one match the line-up crumbled; the batsmen batting before me all got out and I scored 50 odd runs after coming in to bat. From there on, I started batting up the order and that’s how it started. How did you take it forward and under whose guidance? My father was my inspiration and he has been guiding me. I used to practice at the National Stadium in Delhi at first where there was Ramesh Chopra and then I shifted the nets to LB Shastri (Club) under Sanjay Bhardwaj. I felt that I should practice wherever I need to. I used to (at that time) stay in Himachal and spend about six months there to play in U-16 and U-19 tournaments. Rajdeep Kalsi was here, and there were other coaches here and there who were helping me out all the time. What was it like to play in Delhi during summers? It was a good experience to play there. It was good, competitive cricket which helped me learn a lot of things. I was playing more games rather than doing net sessions and so that helped as well (in my cricket). How was it different in HP? At that time they were not playing too many tournaments (in HP). There was only the district tournament and the team would be selected from that main tournament only. So you don’t get too many matches (to play). So getting to play in Delhi (gave me the chance to play more matches) and the experience I gained was a benefit in that respect as well. I got selected in Food Corporation of India and I started playing for them also and then I got a job with them as well. I had to play a lot of games there so got good experience and exposure. It is always different to play in a match vis-a-vis batting in the nets. It’s a different feeling and a different atmosphere which helps you learn and mature. There is a difference between the nature of mistakes that you make in matches and in the nets. While batting in the nets, you can’t judge all the things so it’s a very good experience to play matches. How has your role changed or evolved over the years? It’s not a big thing. I still think I am playing like a youngster. It’s just that there is no one from my batch left (in the team). It’s in the last two-three years that I think I have learnt how to make runs. Now I am mature enough to know how to build the innings and how score the big runs. I still learn a lot from the youngsters. We have been talking to each other and learn from each other. We are learning from each other and just helping each other out. I feel that I have to do well and take the responsibility of the team. I learnt how to build my innings. I started learning (figuring out) what is best for me and how can I score the big runs. I have been talking to myself and in the beginning I take a little bit of time. I don’t try to play too many shots in the beginning. I just play ball-by-ball. My effort is to leave the outside ball and bat normally and try not to do anything extra (or different). Then when I am set (has the measure of the conditions) then I can try to play more shots. I play session by session. Sometimes in a session you don’t get runs and sometimes you cover all the runs in one session. I started to work on my ability and the main thing is to believe in myself. If there is one session where I have to only defend then I can do that, since I know that I can make up for it later in another session. That has helped me a lot. How did you train yourself to play longer innings? It’s always at the back of mind to get a competitive score and get the other team out. I always take the responsibility on myself to take the pressure and make big runs to get the team in a comfortable position from where we don’t lose. Even if we get a draw that’s fine but (we should) not lose the game. That objective helped me get big runs and remain unbeaten as well and that’s the main thing. What do you tell yourself? I just try to be in the present. I focus on batting in the middle, which I love to do. The important thing is to bat in the middle then in the nets rather than sitting outside. So that’s my motive whatever I am doing; if I am playing two or five maiden overs it doesn’t really matter as I know I will cover up for it later. I don’t take too much pressure so that too has helped me. How have you gone about building those partnerships? I also learn from my partners. We share experiences. Staying at the crease is more important. Just stick to the wicket and we will have good partnership and it helps to have good communication between the wickets and play session by session. Doing those things has helped, so that’s what we always talk about - to have a good partnership. How do you look at the role of becoming the mainstay of HP’s lineup? I just think about doing well in every game and get a win for the team. To help the team qualify (for the final stages of any tournament) is my main motive. It was about wanting to take the onus and responsibility and do what is required for the team which helped (me become a better batsman as well). How do you look back on the Ranji Trophy 2015-16 where HP got knocked-out by a narrow margin? The last two-three years we have been doing well, but have been unfortunate to not qualify. So it’s really difficult. How is it playing in the C Group (for Ranji Trophy) and how do you keep yourself motivated? Everyone in the team are thinking of playing big; to play in the (previously) elite or now Group A and B. And so the effort and thinking has been in that direction and that’s how we garnered 30 points this Ranji Trophy season and 28 points last season. We have been performing consistently like that. Everyone is motivated to do well and get the team elevated to the higher group. Everyone knows that if we qualify for the knockouts (and get promoted) it will benefit us not only as a team but everyone. Is your approach to the long and shorter formats different? It is not a huge change that is required but just a bit of improvisation. The wickets are good and the white ball doesn’t swing much (so you have to keep that in mind). Again you have to stick to the wicket, and I have that game; I don’t have to rush for the runs. I am a stroke maker so it’s really not that big thing, it’s not like I have to change a lot. How has cricket progressed in Himachal over the years? We have been doing well for the last three seasons. We have started playing outside as well. We have played a couple of tournaments in Delhi as well and then go and play in the Buchi Babu tournament as well and KSCA which is a good experience to play against Karnataka and other teams. It’s helping the youngsters mature which is helping us. We have camps and there are very good facilities, gymnasium and indoors, a lot of wickets to practice on. How do you reflect on Himachal’s run in the Vijay Hazare trophy? They made it to the semi-finals? Everyone is very keen and hungry for a win. Although we didn’t qualify for the Ranji Trophy knock-outs everyone believes now that we are a good team and we can win. We are sticking to the basics and everyone is enjoying it. We are enjoying each other’s success which is the main thing and that’s the key to winning against formidable sides as well. How did the team carry the form from multi-day cricket in to one-day? There wasn’t enough time to prepare but the team that we have, the young players, they play lot of one-day cricket in Himachal itself and outside like in Delhi, Chandigarh. They are prepared for all that entails so it was kind of a natural instinct. So it was not so difficult for us. There have been two – three changes coming into the one-dayers and those players too have played well. How do you view the win against Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final? Of course it was an important win. Everyone started believing that we can beat a side like that which had a few international players. We have played against them before so the belief was there that we can do it. We fielded very well. Although the match was close, we had decided that we will take it to the end and not let go in the middle. Taking it as close as we can is what helped achieve the target. The youngsters know their roles and they have belief and they are standing up for the team. If one doesn’t have a good day, someone else stands up and does what is required which has made the difference. How do you look at the success so far as the team enters the semi-final? It’s very nice which is giving us a big chance that we could be going on the live telecast. It’s a big opportunity for everyone to showcase their talent. Have you set a goal for the season? My goal is always for the team to win and then we can also make our case for selection (at the next level). And to play for the country is the biggest goal.