Hard for us that season is already over: Abhimanyu Mithun

After a heart-breaking exit from the Ranji Trophy 2015-16 and Vijay Hazare Trophy 2015 for the defending champions Karnataka, pacer Abhimanyu Mithun says the team is extra motivated to come back hard and win the last title of the season - the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Mithun talks about the lessons learnt from this domestic season, his personal form, preparations for the upcoming tournament, his dream of a national comeback, toughest opponents, and much more in an exclusive chat with Cricbuzz.

Two back-to-back good games but Karnataka have unfortunately been knocked out.

I think one bad game cost us. We should have won against Jharkhand. We restricted them for 200-odd runs and we needed a partnership there but we lost four wickets (in no time). So that I felt was the turning point for us in the tournament.

Even in the Ranji Trophy, Karnataka have had a pretty average season this year.

Actually it is very hard to think that the season is almost over for us. Just one tournament left in the season (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy). Last couple of years we have played full seasons, since we won the trophy, but it's very tough to imagine that barring one tournament, the season is almost done for us.

Can you pinpoint what went wrong this season?

The minor mistakes we made at the initial point (in our campaign) hurt us at the later stages that we couldn't have come back. Like when we played Assam (Ranji Trophy opener in Guwahati), we wanted to bowl (after winning the toss) but at the last minute we decided to bat. Everyone was trying to play good and contribute but things didn't go as planned.

Why was this sudden surprise decision to bat?

The decision initially was to bowl (if we win the toss) but last minute, looking at the pitch few players suggested it (pitch) might turn (in the fourth innings). So we decided to bat first and ended up conceding a minor lead. It all started from there. But then it's one of those seasons that you need to learn from. You learn from the mistakes and get experience from it. It'll be good for the next season.

Do you think the kind of pitches you've played at was a reason for a very mediocre season? For the last few years, Karnataka have relied heavily on fast bowlers but this time you hardly had any pitches to suit your strengths.

Yes, our strength for the last four or five years if you see has been our fast bowling attack. But this season we didn't do too well because we got batting tracks. We hardly got two outright wins in this season. Though if you look at the table we had 24 points, but one more outright (win) would have made all the difference. The home advantage wasn't there I felt, as compared to the last season.

Till the last season we use to play in December, the ball used to move around. We started early this season. Also, we didn't have quality team practice sessions because the players were playing for India A and so on. But then, this happens. You need to learn from this. The competition was tough too. We should have won more games and qualified but that happens. You'll just have to learn and move on. Good experience for us (if we) learn from this. We have a young side, it's better for us to learn as early as possible and come back next season and give your best.

How is the mood in the dressing room?

The mood is fine for now. Everyone is obviously hurt, as I said, it is hard for us that the season is already over. We haven't qualified for the Ranji and now the one-dayers today. Everyone is now focusing on playing good cricket. We have one last tournament left and we'll try and do our best there.

Which brings me to my next question - Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy is one trophy Karnataka haven't won. How pumped up, after these early exits, is the team to perform in the T20s?

The team is extra motivated, definitively. We spoke today as well (after the game). We are keen on performing our best in the last tournament that is left. We'll have early practice, the team has decided. We are starting practice ahead of time, we start next week. So we'll try and win that at least.

Any injury concerns in the team? How is Robin Uthappa now? Needs more time to recover?

He's fit. He had some time off. If we would have qualified, Robin would have played in the knockouts.

For you personally, you have some extra time off, what are your immediate objectives?

I just want to be back at practice. I want to work in the academy (KSCA) from next week. I want to work with the head coaches there to improve my game. I feel I am bowling well but you know, you want to keep on improving your game. I feel I can do better so I'll just take videos and sit with the coaches and find out where I can make improvements. The T20s are coming up so I'll and work on my variations ahead of the tournament.

Within the team, how do you learn from other players around you?

It's good to have all the seniors around you, you know. Vinay (Kumar) has played for the country and (Sreenath) Arvind also made his debut recently. Those are the experienced players and they've played more number of matches. So I just keep learning from them and (we) help each other. It's shaping up our bowling attack well.

Is there any competition?

There is hardly any. The experience instead helps us a lot. In practice sessions, and otherwise also, when we sit together and discuss. It's very helpful. Whenever I am not bowling well, Vinay will himself come to me and talk to me. He teaches us from his experience. So it is all very good for us to have good players around.

Is the dream of making an Indian comeback still alive?

Obviously. I still want to play for my country. I have been performing well and improving for the last two years and one or the other day I'll get my chance (to make national comeback). I need to be prepared for it. My main motive is to improve myself as a cricketer and keep performing. Whenever I get my chance, I want to do well and bowl fast. However, I can improve myself, I'll speak to the coaches, ask them to work with me and help me improve. I think, one day or the other, my chance will come and I need to perform there. I am waiting for it and working on my game meanwhile.

What has been the finest moment of your career?

Last year Vijay Hazare semifinal against Bengal. They needed some nine runs in the final over that I bowled. I picked up a couple of wickets won the match for my team. We went on to win the final quite easily, so that one over in death was quite memorable.

You've spent IPL seasons in two different dressing rooms - with Bangalore and Mumbai, and shared dressing rooms with some of the legends of the game. What is that one thing you remember from your IPL days that still motivates you?

My last year was at Mumbai Indians and I spent some time with Ricky Ponting there. I really liked how he would give me tips. Whenever he spoke to me, he would tell me how fast bowling is all about aggression. It's such an advantage to be around such a legend and to be able to learn from them. You bowl well in the nets and they come back and appreciate you, that is such a morale booster for me.

Any particular incident that you remember? An appreciation, a comment or a compliment that really motivated you?

I remember bowling to Sachin paaji (Tendulkar) in the nets in Australia. He was beaten a couple of times by my outswingers. He came up to me and said, I thought you were going to bowl inswingers. I replied, I thought you'll be prepared for inswingers, so I bowled outswingers. Sachin paaji applauded me. So that was memorable for me.

Who has been the most challenging batsman you have faced in your career?

(Shivnarine) Chanderpaul! I haven't played against most of the English batsman but Chanderpaul was one batsman who had answers to everything. On the West Indies tour, when I bowled to Chanderpaul I would feel that I am not bowling well at all. Because he used to play almost everything so easily, that I had my doubts. He would leave (balls) so neatly and I couldn't figure out where I am going wrong. Later I figured, it's his good technique.

And which Indian batsmen is the most intimidating for you?

Rohit Sharma. Because he also, like Chanderpaul, has enough to play (the ball). He also has lot of time to play around his shots. So whenever I have bowled to him, in nets or otherwise, I think he is too good a batsman.

On tough days like these, who keeps the mood light in the dressing room?

Manish Pandey, I think. He is quite chilled out. He will always be the same, whether he scores a hundred or he gets out early, he'll always be the same. He keeps calm. When you're not doing well, he will come and talk to you, push you to improve. If there is a lull, he'll come around and make jokes.

And who is the serious one?

No one is serious as such but wait Robin Uthappa! (laughs). He practices so much, he takes his game, his practice, his rehab so seriously. He is easily the most dedicated player around in the Karnataka cricket setup. If he has free time, he won't waste, he'll go to Bombay (Mumbai) and practice there.

What do you do in your free time? Now that you have some extra time on your hands, what are you going to do?

Nothing for the next two days but then Monday I start work in the academy, as I said. Will be working on few bowling drills. I just want to improve as much as I can ahead of the next tournament.

On a different note, a lot is going in personal life. Congratulations on the engagement. Tell us more about your partner. Does she follow cricket regularly?

Thank you so much. She was also a sportsperson; she played basketball for college. She has been interested in sports, she followed IPL and that's how we got to know each other. Now she follows all the domestic matches as well. She follows the team (Karnataka) closely and also comes down for a few games when she has time.