Kolkata: The new-found adulation aside, for India U-19 World Cup winning pacer Ishan Porel, the next few months will be spent trying to emulate fast bowlers of the senior team and walk on their path in realising his “dream” of making the 2019 World Cup squad.

“My aim would now be to first recover from my injury and then try to emulate our senior team bowlers. (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) they all have so much variation in their bowling and I will look to do that as well.

“It won’t be easy to get into the Indian team like that and playing for India in the 2019 World Cup is still a dream,” Porel said after touching down in Kolkata, days after helping the U-19 team lift the World Cup for a record fourth time in New Zealand.

Porel’s coach Bibhash Das had stressed a few days ago that his student should now aim breaking into the India team for the World Cup.

“I am not thinking about that (senior team call up) at the moment. For now, I will have to work on my speed and I want to bowl closer to the batsmen, maintaining the line and length,” Porel said.

“Now everyone wants me to play in India team. But I don’t have a remote control that I will play in the senior team. It’s a step by step procedure. I’ve do well in Ranji Trophy, Hazare, Mushtaq and then India A,” he pointed out.

It was a festive atmosphere outside the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport around 10:50 am when Porel was scheduled to arrive from Mumbai.

Scores of supporters thronged the premises cheering Porel’s name and holding aloft the India flag.

Shutterbugs kept on clicking to get the best shot as the wiry 19-year old came out of the airport, all smiles and soaking in all the euphoria, a first for him.

There was a lot of jostling among media persons to which Porel took note and obliged all of them at a city government guest house later.

“Nothing has changed for me. It’s the same as earlier,” Porel said reflecting on the hoopla surrounding him since winning the Cup.

Associated Press