Mumbai, Dec 22: It was a dream debut for Punjab pacer Balwinder Singh Sandhu (Jr.) against Mumbai in the first Ranji Trophy match at Wankhede to be played here since December 2007. The 24-year-old claimed a five-for, including a wicket in his first over.

Excerpts from Balwinder’s brief interaction with the media after Day 1:

On whether he had fancied the thought of claiming five wickets

I wasn’t thinking of five wickets, actually. I just thought I would bowl my best because [I knew] I wouldn’t get this kind of opportunity again. I was just trying to bowl to my strengths and in the right areas. Five-wickets – god’s great.

On the wicket

In the morning there was help from the wicket […] but later the wicket became a little slow. But throughout the day there was swing and that is my strength. The conditions were really helping me and the wicket was also really seaming; that really helped me get my five wickets. Swing is my strength so I focus on that. If I leave that [out], there is nothing left in my bowling.

On what the captain told him before the match

The captain had told me a simple thing; just keep bowling in the [right] areas. Don’t try too many things because the wicket will seam. Make the batsmen play and bowl in the right areas.

On whether he had played here before

Yes, I have played here. I made my Under-19 debut here. It was a one-day [match], I think, and I had got one wicket.

On whether attending net sessions regularly helped him

I regularly attended net [sessions]. That helped […] The Mumbai team always has good batsmen so practicing with them definitely helped me.

On whether he was nervous before the day started

I was a little nervous at the start but once I got the first wicket in the first over, I was at ease. [Then I was] feeling really confident.

On being asked to pick his favourite wicket

I liked the Uday Kaul wicket most because my plan was to set him [up]. I was bowling to him outside in the previous over as well, outswing to the left-hander. In the next over I bounced him on the first ball, so then he was on the back-foot; then [I] bowled right in front and got him lbw.

On whether his namesake, former pacer Balwinder Singh Sandhu, was his favourite bowler

Not my favourite bowler, but yes, I have spoken to him. I was in RCF and he was there [too] so I have met him a lot of times.

On his coach

Austin Cutinho; he is from RCF.