Abhishek Nayar moves his base to Pondicherry ahead of Ranji Trophy

A useful right-arm medium pacer and a regular attacking option with the bat, Nayar rendered yeoman service to Mumbai cricket over the years. Capable of crease occupation and hitting the ball hard, Nayar chipped in with vital contributions in Mumbai's successful Ranji Trophy campaigns. In the final of 2007-09 Ranji trophy final, he made a vital 99 that helped set up Mumbai's 38th triumph. To go with that, he was the second-highest run-scorer in the 2012/13 Ranji Trophy season and scored 966 runs for Mumbai including three centuries and eight 50s. He also picked up 19 wickets to play an important role in the team's 40th Ranji Trophy title.

"Initially, I was very sour. I wasn't very happy with how things went - 100th game, in Mumbai, versus Tripura," he reflects. "I was just getting back into form, getting back my flow. I kept thinking 'Why? What can the thinking be? I mean, I've done so much. I've been there. I've always been someone who has given everything for the team. Why? After I got dropped I played a lot of club cricket, company cricket and did well there. But I still didn't get picked anywhere… I don't want to judge anyone. I have immense respect for Ajit as a cricketer, person and friend. He's one of the persons I believe is honest enough and practical enough in that whole set-up. I won't lie - initially I felt like, 'What the hell yaar? It's just one game. They could have given me that and asked me to go.' But it's fine. And he still had the courtesy to pick up the phone, call me, and tell me in person - which for me shows character. A lot of people have been dropped in the past just like that,” Nayar told Cricinfo. 

"When I look back at it, I feel like I didn't play my 100th game then, but so what? Two years later, no one talks about who you played your 100th game for, or where you played. I'm sure my team-mates have the same amount of respect for me, five games or 100 games. Whether or not it was my last game for Mumbai, I'm going, knowing that the relationships I've formed with people there will last,” Nayar added. 

Pondicherry certainly presents the kind of set-up that Nayar enjoys - a fresh team, a big challenge, being friend, philosopher and guide to a new bunch.