‘One match doesn’t decide a career’: Anshul Kamboj’s powerful response after match-winning show against New Zealand

Anshul Kamboj (Image credit: Sahil Malhotra/TimesofIndia.com) NEW DELHI: Anshul Kamboj had a message for his critics after his impressive performance in India’s opening ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday. The Haryana pacer, who was named man of the match for his disciplined spell of 2/22 in 10 overs, made it clear that he would not let outside opinions influence his approach and insisted that one performance should not define a player’s career.“One match doesn’t decide a career… I was doing the same things. After the Manchester Test, I got motivated to perform. I don’t pay attention to outside calls,” Kamboj said at the post-match press conference.The 25-year-old’s comments came after he played a key role in India’s bowling dominance, helping the visitors dismiss New Zealand for 185 before completing a five-wicket victory in a rain-affected contest.Kamboj dismissed New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner for four and Nathan Smith for one and produced a disciplined performance along with Arshdeep Singh who claimed four wickets and Gurnoor Brar who claimed three wickets.

Cradle seam and disciplined lengths are the key to success

Explaining the secret behind his impressive figures, Kamboj credited his ability to stick to the basics rather than being distracted by the nature of the surface.“I think the key was just consistent length and line, not thinking about how the wicket behaves, just the basic plan, bowling the right lines and the right pitches,” he said in the post-match presentations.The pacer also revealed that the swinging seam delivery proved particularly effective against the New Zealand batters.“I think the swing seam ball worked very well, so I used it over and over again,” he said.Kamboj explained that his preparations included working on his length and studying the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition batsmen.“Just working on lengths and good lines and looking at the batsmen’s strengths and weaknesses and working on that,” he added.During the press briefing, he also stressed that preparation was important to build confidence before the match: “When you prepare well, it gives you confidence and ensures that there are no surprises in the match.”

‘The dimensions were different, but…’

Asked how he would adapt to New Zealand conditions and the different dimensions at Eden Park, Kamboj said he was focused on executing his plans rather than making unnecessary changes.“The dimensions were different, but it doesn’t matter when the help is off the field,” he said.The all-rounder also spoke about balancing his duties with bat and ball to keep his approach straightforward.“All the rounder roles are simple: aim to bat when the bat is in hand, bowl when the ball is in hand,” he said during the PC.Kamboja’s performance was part of a collective bowling effort that set up India’s victory. In response, Virat Kohli smashed 74 off 51 balls while Shubman Gill scored 56 off 37 deliveries as India chased down a rain-adjusted target of 143 in 22.4 overs.India will now look to extend their lead in the five-match series when the second ODI takes place in Wellington on Saturday.