Debutant curator delivers in style

                                                   

Ankit Datta stood out amidst the euphoria of India’s thumping performance at the Ferozeshah Kotla. His was a role that went unappreciated but he played a significant part in giving the contest a pitch that was worthy of Test status.

The pressure on him to deliver a decent playing surface was understandable following the heat generated by the pitches at Mohali and Nagpur. But Datta did not fail. An understudy of veteran curator and first-class cricketer Daljit Singh, he remained unsung but deserved praise for a job well done.

India team director Ravi Shastri had encouraging words for Datta. “It was an excellent pitch. I think Ankit is extremely knowledgeable and in the safe hands of Daljit, who is the best in business. Ankit did a fabulous job,” said Shastri.

The 28-year-old Datta was Venkat Sundaram’s assistant at the India-Australia Test here in 2013 after having been associated with pitch making at the Kotla for four years now. This was Datta’s debut as a Test curator.

Pleasant departure

In a first for Kotla, the thin presence of officials at the presentation ceremony was a pleasant departure from the past. All thanks to Justice Mukul Mudgal, who was assigned by the Delhi High Court to oversee the conduct of the India-South Africa match.

Justice Mudgal had recommended only Chetan Chauhan, former Test opener and acting president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), to join the Board secretary Anurag Thakur and a representative of the sponsor at the presentation function. This left an army of DDCA officials dejected for not finding space in the frame.