Mumbai, Jan 30: In what had been a winless season this far, the U-19 bunch have brought cheer to Mumbai by winning the Cooch Behar Trophy 2011-12 based on a first-innings lead against Maharashtra in the tournament final. Captain Harmeet Singh, who is playing his last Under-19 season, and coach Satish Samant, spoke about the team’s journey and the challenges they faced during the tournament.

Excerpts from their post-match interaction with the media:

On the challenges and strengths of the team

Harmeet Singh: The challenge was to display our best performance. The determination that our team has shown over the last two months [is impressive]. This is the first or second year for most players while it is my third year so I knew what happens in Under-19 cricket. I have played in the knockouts [previously] as well so I knew what kind of preparation was required […] So sir, I and all of us were trying to make the players aware of what was needed in the situations that could arise. Even at the end of the third day we were thinking that the game was on and that we had to play one more session. It was only after playing the first session today [when Mumbai were 413 for nine] when we started to celebrate as it was only then that we believed that we had sealed the game.

Satish Samant: Very good team-effort. Our preparation this year was exemplary. Our off-season training happened on time and as planned. We played practice matches against MP in September which gave us an idea about our strengths and how we could perform during the season. Then we went to Chandigarh to a play a tournament where although we lost the final to Punjab, we played a few league matches where we performed very well […] We could identify the individual capacities of our players there, [decide] who we could bank on and for what. There were 12 all-rounders in our team of 16 […]. If someone didn’t perform a role, there was always someone else ready to do it. Our lower-order batting was our main strength.

On not declaring their innings

Harmeet Singh: You always want to be on the safe side and never want to be overconfident.

On Mumbai’s only tournament win this season

Harmeet Singh: It’s always a proud feeling [to contribute to a title win]. I have been part of a winning team for the first time for Mumbai. Now I know how it feels [and that too] at the Wankhede stadium. It has been a memorable stadium for us. We all have strived for this. Whenever we had a bad patch or were not doing well, we would think that all the efforts that we had made in the practice sessions and camps shouldn’t go to waste and we should look forward to [winning] and strive harder. […] A lot of these players will play Ranji Trophy also at some point so this is good for Mumbai’s future as well. It is also an indication to the senior players that we are coming up [through the ranks].

On playing Under-19 cricket after having played the Ranji Trophy

Harmeet Singh: It’s the way you look at it. It’s not an adjustment. I look at it as playing a game and nothing is big or small. The game is bigger than all of us; it doesn’t matter whether you are playing at Azad Maidan or playing at the Wankhede Stadium. You are playing cricket and you need to be at your best if you do want to do well.

On whether having played for the Mumbai senior team made his job as captain a bit easier

The experience counts. The situations we faced in the Ranji Trophy I dealt with calmly where other players got pressurised. I made everyone aware that we shouldn’t be over-excited or overdo things […] And the way everyone responded was amazing.

On his captaincy

Harmeet Singh: […] I did well as captain, did well with the bat and did well when I had the ball in my hand also […] Everyone thought that if Harmeet is not there we should also take wickets. If you see the tally, everyone has taken […] wickets and […] everyone has scored runs. Not like our counterparts who had only a few batsmen scoring runs. So the plan was to take a few wickets and get into their tail. When we saw the target we had set, I just told them to get two wickets in early and then we would get into [the tail].

Satish Samant: Harmeet’s leadership was excellent. He led from the front […] His field placements were good. He could execute the plans very well. He could take decisions at the times when the coach couldn’t do much from outside. He is very intelligent.

On the match

Harmeet Singh: Our batting order also failed for the first time […] At that time I was also upset. I thought that we had lost it and we would have to field for three days and it would be tough. Then I thought, ‘Let’s at least give it a try’ […] I told everyone we had to try and win […] If would perform our best, we would [win]. Every bowler bowled his best […]. Our efforts paid off.