Rajneesh Gurbani Likely to Play for Maharashtra After Getting NOC From Vidarbha

Uncapped fast bowler Rajneesh Gurbani has decided to shift base from Vidarbha and is likely to play for Maharashtra in the upcoming domestic season.

“Most likely, I will be moving to Maharashtra,” Gurabni told News18 CricketNext.

The right-arm pacer, who has played 34 First-class matches for Vidarbha and picked up 111 wickets, took to his social media account to make the announcement and thanked the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) for its support.

“I write this with utmost gratitude towards VCA for giving me the opportunity to serve them as a cricketer for past 9 years,” he wrote.

Gurbani was part of the triumphant Vidarbha units that had won back-to-back Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy titles during the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons. Moreover, he also picked up a hat trick against Delhi in the final in 2017.

The 31-year-old credited Faiz Fazal, Umesh Yadav, and Wasim Jaffer for the lessons learned

“I have learnt a lot from all three of them. Talking specifically about my bowling partnership with Umesh bhai was like a dream that I bowl from one end and he bowls from the other,” he said.

“It was a childhood dream for me to bowl alongside Umesh bhai and that eventually happened so it feels great. Wasim Bhai is a legend of Test cricket. He and also Faiz bhai used to give me a batter’s perspective like how a batter is thinking,” he added.

‘Want to represent the country’

Gurbani’s ultimate aim is to play for the country but he needs more game time at the domestic level to showcase his skillset.

“The reason (for making the shift) is that I have been in and out in the side and wasn’t really getting continuous opportunities. The stage which I’m currently at,   I need to play all the matches if I want to represent the country. I’m very confident that I can represent the country but for that, I need more to play frequently and win matches for my team,” he said.

Maharashtra’s highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy, Samad Fallah who picked up 272 wickets for the state side, formally announced his retirement earlier which opened up a vacancy for a pacer in the Maharashtra bowling unit.

Gurbani who is looking to be a regular name in the team sheet might get that opportunity in the Maharashtra side after Fallah’s retirement.

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