Nathu Singh has the spark, the X-factor: Sandeep Patil

Nathu Singh has picked up 11 wickets in the Ranji season so far. (Source: Express File)

Until this morning, Nathu Singh, a 20-year old fast bowler playing his maiden first-class season for Rajasthan, believed that his greatest sign of success was being called ‘India’s fast bowling future’ by Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Foundation.

Then this morning, that sign of success changed to something more substantial. Into something more to do with the present than future. On Monday morning, Nathu Singh was picked by Sandeep Patil in the Board President’s XI squad that will play the South Africans before the four-match Test series starting next month. Patil believed the boy had ‘the X-Factor’ that selectors always search for.

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Not bad for a lad whose career has spanned all of three Ranji Trophy matches.

Nathu, for his part, has to pinch himself to believe that any of this is actually taking place. “Today a (Rajasthan) teammate called up and said ‘congratulations’. ‘What for?’ I asked. He informed me about my selection and I told him that please don’t joke about such matters. It’s not possible but then I was a bit curious and checked the internet. I found my name and couldn’t believe it. It’s yet to sink in,” Nathu said.

While Nathu has 11 wickets in the Ranji season so far (including a 7/87 against Delhi), Patil claimed that it wasn’t his ability to pick wickets that impressed him.

“We are always looking at something special. Selectors’ job is not only to go by the scoresheets otherwise the statisticians would have done a better job,” he said. “For last three years, we have been watching all the home games. We always try to find extra talent and extra spark and we saw some glimpse in Nathu Singh and we want to give him an opportunity.”

The men responsible for shaping him at the MRF Pace Foundation would like say ‘I told you so’. He was the cause for much hope in the Batch for 2015, the first batch that McGrath headed along with chief bowling coach, Senthilnathan.

In a recent interview with the Indian Express, Senthilnathan had said: “He averages around 140 kmph in a spell. And in a five-over spell, he can even touch 145 kmph a few deliveries… He has the speed and control to succeed. He can definitely bowl quicker and can generate good speeds more consistently.”

It didn’t end there. “Generally it is difficult to perfect a yorker and slower one but Nathu has both,” Senthilnathan had said. “He is the brightest prospect for the country.”

All that hasn’t gone to his head. And neither has his selection for the tour game against the South Africans. “My job is to bowl fast and pick wickets. And do whatever the captain tells me. I am not thinking about bowling to AB de Villiers or when the India cap is coming. That would be putting too much pressure on myself,” he said.