Patiala-lad becomes second highest run getter in Ranji Trophy this season

Just two months ago, the cricket fraternity hadn't even heard of Jiwanjot Singh. The Patiala-lad was on verge of debuting for Punjab in Ranji Trophy but what has transpired since has taken the Indian cricket arena by storm.

Sample the stats: He scored a century and a double in the first two games, but that was just a prelude of things to come. As Punjab made the semis cut, Jiwanjot sits as the second highest run getter in Ranji this season so far, just a few separate Jiwanjot's 916 in nine games with Karnataka's CP Gautam (943). And with Jiwanjot's century tally standing at five, he is already been touted as an India material.

Jharkhand had scored 401 in the first innings but riding on Jiwanjot's 131, and a brilliant unbeaten century by Taruwar Kohli (151 batting) and Mandeep Singh (96), Punjab did it in style, taking the first-innings lead and finishing the fourth day at 435 for 3.

An excited 22-year-old Jiwanjot said, "It is an incredible feeling. I scored a century against Jharkhand but the bottom line is that we won the game also. It is a nice feeling to know that we are in the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy."

Son of a University level cricketer, Jiwanjot started playing cricket at the NICS academy in Patiala and trained under former Punjab Ranji cricketer Mahesh Inder Singh. Unlike the modern era cricketers who like to improvise with the shots, Jiwanjot is the sort of cricketer who would bat with a straight bat. In all nine matches, Jiwanjot has hit 136 fours and not even a single six. This shows how he goes about his innings. "I have never felt the need to go for a big lofted hit over the fence. I have always played on the merit of the ball. I don't lose my cool so easily. I like to build my innings and run for the runs. I have tried to finish off things whenever I have got a start," stated Jiwanjot who listens to Gurdas Mann songs for relaxation.

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