On the eve of the second India versus South Africa T20I at the plush New Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium, built on the outskirts of Chandigarh in Mullanpur, promotional posters outside the stadium have faces of four men – the captain, Suryakumar Yadav, and the three Punjabis. Roadside jersey-sellers who have, typically, parked themselves outside the stadium box office are selling the usual suspects: Dhoni, Rohit, Kohli. But demand is unusually high for other names, especially for the destructive opening batter Abhishek Sharma.
For the fourth year running, Punjab will host an international men’s team cricket fixture. It will be the first time the Indian men’s team plays at this new, modern facility, after the women’s team hosted Australia for two ODIs in September. But the major reason for the buzz is that for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, three Punjabi players – Abhishek, his opening partner Shubman Gill, and fast bowler Arshdeep Singh – will turn out for India in an international game in their home state.
Punjab troika
Baljit Kaur, Arsdheep’s mother, shares palpable excitement. “All three are like three brothers; they share a very close bond. And to see them playing for India together is like family members playing for India,” she tells The Indian Express. “We had also met Abhishek in Australia, and both families travelled together and cheered for them. At Mullanpur too, we all will be cheering.”
The hype is shared by many. “I have seen all of them since their younger days, especially Shubman. After such a long time, we are seeing three players making their place almost permanent in the Indian team. Obviously, it makes our hearts full,” Rajkumar Sharma, Abhishek’s father and childhood coach, says.
Promotional posters outside the PCA stadium have faces of four men – the captain, Suryakumar Yadav, and the three Punjabis – Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh. (Express Photo | Nitin Sharma)
India’s buildup to their T20 World Cup defence kicked off in earnest with a thumping 101-run victory in the first T20I at Cuttack on Wednesday. As they fine-tune their team and combinations over nine more games in the next two months, the three local players from this state have established themselves as mainstays.
All three have shown they have the X-factor; Shubman has taken to his elevation as Test and ODI captains and runs have come in T20s too; Abhishek is the No. 1 T20 batter in the world, and Arsdheep’s new-ball abilities with the white ball, on display during India’s 2-1 ODI series win over South Africa last week, have got people out of their seats.
“I guess the last time three Punjab players played for India was me, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh. These are very good signs,” Reetinder Singh Sodhi, a former India allrounder who has played 18 ODIs, says.
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Rise in T20s
As a state team, Punjab’s results have been fairly mixed, having last won the Ranji Trophy in 1993. But that has not stopped a stream of players across generations – from Navjot Singh Sidhu and Chetan Sharma to Yuvraj and Harbhajan – to enter Indian ranks. The new generation is picking up the mantle.
For Vikram Rathour, former India batting coach and member of the triumphant team in 1993, Punjab has never lacked talent. He roundly rejects the idea that there is a change in mindset among today’s generation and those of a previous era. “Can you find me a more fearless and hard-hitting cricketer than Yuvraj Singh?” he says.
25
Years Since Last Time
Three Punjabi players playing together in their home state for India
Abhishek Sharma
Opening Batter
World No. 1 T20 Batter
High jersey demand at stadium
Shubman Gill
Opening Partner
Test & ODI Captain
Runs flowing in T20s
Arshdeep Singh
Fast Bowler
New-ball specialist
White ball mastery
“All three are like three brothers; they share a very close bond. To see them playing for India together is like family members playing for India”
— Baljit Kaur, Arshdeep’s Mother
Family Support System
Traveled Together
Families met in Australia, traveled and cheered together for their sons
Pushing Each Other
Shubman and Abhishek push and help each other, creating strong camaraderie
Childhood Connection
Rajkumar Sharma has seen all three since their younger days, especially Shubman
Mullanpur Reunion
All families will be cheering together at PCA Stadium for historic home match
Indian Express InfoGenIE
But it is T20 cricket, in particular, that is rising up, in his view. It may have been over three decades since they got their hands on the domestic First-Class title, but Punjab won the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy two seasons ago. The format itself perfectly suits Punjabi sporting culture: work hard, play hard.
“We are generally very hardworking, which has been shown by our athletes in other sports as well. But there is definitely an element of being fearless and being fun-loving that is embedded in Punjabi culture, and T20 cricket has a lot of that too,” he says.
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Sodhi agrees with the assessment, adding, “Then there is camaraderie and chemistry between the Punjabis. I see Shubman and Abhishek push each other a lot and also help each other a lot. So that’s also an advantage.”
Promising future
The IPL has brought with it much-needed exposure to playing top-quality opposition under pressure, and miniature versions of those scenarios are there in the local franchise league, too. “In my role at Rajasthan Royals (as assistant coach), I can tell you a lot of the scouting happens in the state leagues, and Punjab’s league (Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cup) is one of the better ones out there,” Rathour says.
“I actually believe Punjab has a lot more talent than what it has achieved yet. It should be doing even better. With the kind of top players they have now, the only way should be up,” Rathour adds.
The way to the top begins on Thursday, by giving what is expected to be a maximum-capacity crowd full of locals, their money’s worth.