Motivation Trick

Income Tax’ batsman Sangram Bagul reveals how a pep talk from a senior official proved handy as he clubbed a career-best unbeaten 179 against JMJ

Suhrid Barua, Pune Mirror, April 14, 2009
There are probably numerous instances of how pep talks of coaches, seniors have helped cricketers attain the desired result. Income Tax top-order batsman Sangram Bagul is one such beneficiary.
On eve of Income Tax’s Super League opener against JMJ at Poona Club, one man ensured Sangram’s motivation at its highest. “Income Tax assistant commissioner Sandeep Pradhan sir came to the ground before the start of the match, and spoke to me about the importance of getting a big knock. He said he would settle for nothing less than that,” revealed Sangram who lived up to his expectations, smashing a careerbest unbeaten 179 which enabled his side pull off a win by virtue of first-innings lead.
What’s more, the 25-year-old presented a bouquet at the end of the day’s play. “Pradhad sir sent a bouquet through one person who gave it to our captain Ajinkya Joshi, as the gentleman didn’t know me personally. My captain gave me the bouquet saying Sandeep Pradhan sir had sent for me. It was a heady feeling to have received a bouquet from Pradhan sir as I missed three ties in the qualifying stage,” gushes Sangram, who belted twenty-four boundaries during his knock of 179 which surpassed his previous best of 150 not out against Nashik last season.
Sangram joined Income Tax in 2007 and this was his second year for his employers in the MCA Invitational League. Last season, he had a fabulous run for Income Tax, notching over 600 run at an average of 60.
The Kalyan-born boy, who is posted in Thane was in the 2007 Maharashtra Ranji squad. “I was part of the team led by Amol Mazumdar though I didn’t get to play. Last season, I had a consistent stint with Income Tax and I wrote to Maharashtra Cricket Association to consider my performances regarding playing for Maharashtra,” said Sangram, who also played for Air India from 2001-2007 on contract and is a big Steve Waugh fan.
“What I like about him is his mental toughness. I really admire the way how he used to bail his team out of crisis situations on such a consistent basis,” he added.
NUMBERS
HERE’S A LOOK AT SOME INTERESTING STATS AND TOP PERFORMERS
347
Highest total registered by Income Tax against JMJ
84
Lowest total registered by PYC against Kolhapur District Cricket Association
TOP THREE PERFORMERS BOWLING
5-51 (I innings) and 3/64 (II innings) - Mudassar Mulla (DY Patil) vs Ambitious
4/61 (I innings) and 4/52 (II innings) - Kiran Adhav (MCA Blue) vs Jalgaon District Cricket Association
5/24 (I innings) and 3/36 (II innings) - Kaustubh Patil (PYC) vs Kol-hapur District Cricket Association
BATTING
179^*
Sangram Bagul (Income Yax) vs JMJ
94
Rohan Bhosale (MCA Blue) vs Jalgaon District Cricket Association
84
Vishant More (MCA Red) vs Club of Maharashtra Note:The statistics are of eight matches played last week * Indicates not out