Quitting cricket was never an option: VRV Singh
Singh feels his pace hasn't reduced significantly despite the surgery; but he has modified his bowling action.
Vikram Rajvir Singh made his international debut for India in April 2006, but a combination of a loss of form and a spate of injuries threatened to cut short his career.
However, after overcoming a serious back injury, the 27-year-old is eager to make up for lost time even as he is determined to focus on the task at hand.
Singh took the first steps when he played for Punjab in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Twenty20 tournament where his team finished as the runners-up to champions Baroda. Singh made an impressive comeback taking eight wickets in four matches at an average of 12.75 and economy rate of 6.37.
When he first burst on to the international scene, Singh focussed on sheer pace and even managed to impress former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop with his bowling. But, after playing only five Tests and two ODIs for India, Singh's injury nightmare started. The foot, ankle and back injuries all played a big part as his pace dropped and he gradually lost his rhythm because of the lack of match practice. He had ankle surgery in 2008, but was again injured before the 2009 Ranji Trophy after which he played only a single match for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2010.
And, after his back injury made it difficult for him to go on, he decided to go in for surgery in Australia in late 2010. "Initially, the injury was not that bad. But it did not improve much and went on deteriorating. After IPL 2010, I played some local games to see how it went but it was not good," he told Cricinfo.
It took him almost a year after the surgery to start bowling again, and he resumed bowling with his normal run-up only in December 2011. Singh, who is glad and relieved to be back playing cricket, stated never once in those 18 tough months did he think of quitting the game.
"Giving up on cricket was never an option. If I had wanted to do that, I would have never gone in for this surgery. After surgery, I never thought that I won't play cricket. I always had it at the back of my mind that I want to make a comeback. The good thing is, I gave myself time to recover and didn't hurry back," he said.
Singh feels his pace hasn't reduced significantly despite the surgery; but he has modified his bowling action and worked on his back-foot landing to lighten the load on his body. "Earlier I used to not think much (about my action), but after the surgery I thought that if I slightly modify it to front-on from side-on then it might help make my follow-through easier and it might not (put too much pressure) on the lower body," he said.
Though he wasn't picked up by any of the franchises in the auction for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League, Singh said he isn't depressed at not having an IPL contract; adding he has become mentally tougher after his back surgery.
