Sachin told me to be consistent

Mumbai: Ranji debutant Vishal Dabholkar, who was impressive with his three-wicket haul against Baroda in the ongoing quarter-final match here, on Wednesday said that he got advice to maintain consistency from senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar. The 25-year old made his debut for the 39-time champions in this match and was presented the Mumbai cap by Tendulkar.

"Sachin Tendulkar gave me the cap. He told me to do well and said I have a long way to go. He said don't stop here," Dabholkar said. "Sachin sir told me to remain consistent and said everything else will follow. Ajit (Agarkar) and Wasim (Jaffer) also told me the same thing," he said.

Dabholkar had provided the breakthrough for his side, after Baroda openers had forged a 102-run stand. He scalped three wickets for 88 runs in the first innings. The left-arm spinner was pleased with his performance and said, "I am very happy with the three wickets. Especially in Mumbai, under Sachin, Ajit, Wasim, who are Test players, to perform well is a big thing. I am happy that I performed well."

He scalped three wickets for 88 runs in the first innings.

On the long wait he endured to make it into the Ranji playing eleven, he said, "You have to toil a lot to get into the Mumbai team. You are not selected in the team based on a single performance. To get into the playing 11 is a big thing."

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