In the late 90s, Debasish Mohanty briefly emerged as a third force in the Indian seam attack headed by the Karnataka duo of Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad. As suddenly as he came in, however, he went out, replaced by bowlers like Abey Kuruvilla, Robin Singh (jr) and Ashish Nehra. Over the last couple of years, with the emergence of young players like Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan, Mohanty almost became a forgotten figure in Indian cricket. Well, almost because he was still in and out of the one day squad, where the need frequently has been three or even four seam bowlers. In three years, he has played 41 ODIs. But his Test appearances have been restricted to two.

The 24-year-old seam bowler from Orissa made his Test debut in Sri Lanka in 1997 in rather daunting circumstances. For, only in the previous Test, Sri Lanka amassed the record score of 952 for six. Just two days later, Mohanty was bowling to Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama who had put together a small matter of 576 runs in the previous Test.

Undaunted by the prospect, Mohanty soon settled down. Coming on as first change after being taken to supplement the new ball attack of Prasad and Kuruvilla, Mohanty removed Jayasuriya for 32. A little later, he had the wicket of Mahanama for 37. Then after going wicketless for some time, he brought the innings to a rather swift end by dismissing Aravinda de Silva for 146 and Ravindra Pushpakumara for zero. He finished with the highly impressive figures of four for 78. However, over the next three outings he had figures of none for 72 (in the second innings of that Colombo Test) and none for 57 and none for 32 (against the same opponents at Mohali later in the season).

Mohanty has not been considered for a Test since then. But he earned a reputation for accuracy and so was almost always around when it came to selection in one day cricket. He was also a good swing bowler and so his selection was almost automatic when conditions were windy. And he proved in the last World Cup in England that the selectors were right in picking him at the last moment, even though he was not in the original list of probables. He more than justified his inclusion, picking up four for 56 against Kenya, excelling with a crucial double blow against England by dismissing Alec Stewart and Graeme Hick in the same over and generally relishing the helpful conditions. He however had few chances to cement his place on the tour of Australia where Agarkar was given more opportunities.

Still with discussion of the Indian new ball attack recently centring around Srinath, Prasad, Agarkar and Zaheer Khan, cricket fans might have been forgiven had they asked `Debasish who' in response to Mohanty. But the slim, yet stout hearted cricketer never gave up hope of making a comeback. Just last week he told an interviewer that he was determined and was putting in an extra effort to make a comeback to the national team. He said he was constantly working on his bowling and correcting faults to emerge as a world class bowler. "I am putting some extra thought to develop my outswinger which is my natural delivery", said the unassuming Mohanty. He said he would concentrate on domestic cricket and perform well in a bid to catch the selector's eye.

Actually, it is never easy for a cricketer from one of the weaker states to break into the national side. And on this count, Mohanty deserves credit for forcing himself into the Indian team on merit. He came through the India A ranks and his bowling impressed coach K Srikkanth who advocated his early inclusion in the senior side. Mohanty's tragedy has perhaps been the fact that the selectors have not known what exactly to do with him or where to fit him in.

But then Mohanty is made of sterner stuff. He relishes a challenge and is undaunted by the fact that the competition for the fast bowler's place in the Indian team is stiff. In a recent interview he said, "I know that good fast bowlers like Zaheer have come into the Indian team. Moreover, there are established cricketers like Srinath, Prasad and Agarkar. However, I still feel that I can make a comeback simply because of the amount of cricket that is now played in a season. One must always be ready for a chance, so that when it comes, I can grab it with both hands." His philosophy is simple. "My job is to take as many wickets as I can. The rest is for the selectors to decide."

Putting this philosophy into practice, Mohanty this season has struck a purple patch. For a start, he played a leading role in Orissa finishing top of the heap in the East Zone Ranji Trophy league. He bagged 25 wickets at just over 12 apiece. Orissa defeated Bengal for the first time in 43 years and the architect was Mohanty, who had match figures of eleven for 93. Then last week he wrecked a strong North Zone side in the Duleep Trophy by taking six for 58 in the first innings. And on Thursday, he became only the fifth Indian bowler to take all ten wickets in first class cricket, joining the ranks of Subash Gupte, P Chatterjee, Pradeep Sundaram and Anil Kumble. He routed a formidable South Zone side with figures of 19-5-46-10, the second best figures by an Indian bowler in first class cricket. On these performances it can be taken that he has leapfrogged over some of his rivals for a place in the national side and should be a serious contender for the seamer's spot in the series against Australia next month.

During the season, Mohanty has been working overtime to gain more control over his length and direction. In the recent interview, he said "I am working out in my own way as in international cricket, you cannot afford to make a single mistake. I have found my rhythm this season." He can say that again.

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