Cricketer Parth Kalia does Gurdaspur proud

Gurdaspur, January 25

Gurdaspur cricketer Parth Kalia, who had come into the spotlight when he was called upon by the BCCI to be a net-bowler against the Australian team which played a one-day match in Mohali in September, has done the city proud by doing exceptionally well in the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) cricket tournament (under-17) that concluded in Patna recently.

Punjab was placed third, while Delhi and Haryana came first and second, respectively. The main talking point among the Punjab players was the performance of Parth. He took eight wickets in seven matches in the T-20 format, which is considered to be an above-par bowling display in the abridged version of the game.

He was the only cricketer from Gurdaspur district who made it to the Punjab team. He ended the tournament with eight wickets conceding just five runs per over. He was declared the ‘most economical bowler of the tournament.’

Parth said the two-day practice session he had with the Australian batters in Mohali had done him a world of good. “I bowled to the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Labuschagne and David Warner and learnt so many new things. I vividly remember troubling southpaw Warner with my off-breaks, some of which turned really sharply. Maxwell gave me some tips on how to flight the ball when the going gets tough while Labuschagne impressed upon me the importance of keeping a good line and length against batsmen who are in full-flow,” said Parth.

He is awaiting a call from the SGFI selection committee to get selected for a national level camp slated at a venue and date to be decided soon.

“I am confident of making it to the national camp. I did well in the tournament and I hope the selectors have taken note of my performance,” he added.