Bengal’s veteran warhorse Ashoke Dinda welcomed a baby girl in his home and it has come at an joyous moment, with Bengal qualifying for the semi-finals of Ranji Trophy 2017/18.

Bengal was playing in Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Rajasthan and the staff was celebrating the revoking of ban on the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). But for Dinda, it was the news of the arrival of his child that brought smile on his face.

Dinda also admitted that he has matured with time. He says "Back then, it was because of my action that people felt so... My length was back of the length, so the batsmen thought that bouncers were coming their way, and thus would always stay on the backfoot," he explains, but admits that his improved performances in the last few years have been because he has become more clever as a bowler."

"I have worked very hard (to bring this change). My coach Atal Dev Burman told me if you want to take wickets, you have to bowl fuller, whether it is inswing or outswing. So slowly I started learning, working hard while playing Ranji Trophy. In the last five years, I've been trying to keep it up and swing. Now my length, in the last five years, has been fuller, I'm looking to bowl outswing. That's why there is a difference," Dinda continued.

Dinda has been playing the role of mentor for the young pace brigade of Bengal, in absence of Mohd Shami. Dinda admitted that in absence of Shami, other bowlers had to work hard on taking wickets and he had to teach many things to the young bowlers.

He says, "Be it a batsman or a bowler, we Indians have very little patience. They need to make a habit of bowling in one channel consistently, irrespective of the level of cricket. Be it Tests or even club cricket, if you can bowl six deliveries in good areas every over, you will get wickets."

Talking about his leap while bowling and over enthusiastic nature on field, Dinda admitted, "Every time I cross the ropes on a cricket ground, I become a different person. Mere haath mein ball hai to I feel I'm the best, no matter who the batsman is. Everyone has bad days, but if it is my day, mein sab ko khaa jaata hoon."

However, Dinda couldn’t hide his joy of becoming a father.

"First child," he tells. "I'm so excited, I'm going home, will see her today... so happy."