Dolphins' Mungroo looking to kick on

• Dolphins seamer Kerwin Mungroo acknowledges that the lockdown has given him an opportunity to recover from his injury.
• Mungroo was part of the reigning Mzansi Super League franchise Paarl Rocks, he speaks on his experience.
• Mungroo believes that Dolphins bowling coach Quinton Friend has had a positive impact on his game.

The 25-year-old broke his finger in the Dolphins' One Day Cup game with the Knights in Bloemfontein which put an end to a promising season for the Ladysmith-born star which led to a tough few months on the sidelines.

"The injury hit me really hard because I felt like I was playing good cricket up to that point," Mungroo said. "White ball cricket is what I love and I grew up playing it so I was excited for the One Day Cup and was hoping to contribute a lot to the side.

"I think I might have also been too keen to get back playing and that meant that the injury didn't heal properly so that set me back further.

"The lockdown has given me a proper chance to recover which has been good."

Mungroo formed an important part of the Mzansi Super League winning Paarl Rocks bowling line-up where he took one for 21 in his four overs in the final as the Rocks beat the Tshwane Spartans. Being involved in a tournament winning side was a big boost for Mungroo's confidence.

"The emphasis at the Rocks was taking responsibility and doing your part for the team," he explained. "I knew that I would have to bowl with the new ball and try and get some swing up front and then have to come back at the death.

"The senior players would give me assistance but they wouldn't tell me what to do and I think that has given me a lot of confidence in my own game.

"I felt like I came back to the Dolphins as a different bowler and I was backed by the coaching staff which was a massive boost for me."

The Dolphins employed a new bowling coach in Quinton Friend at the beginning of last season and Mungroo feels that he has had a positive impact on his game so far.

"Quinton always wants you to give one hundred percent all the time and he is always on your back making sure that you are putting in the hard work," he said.

"I feel that I thrive in that sort of environment and having him always talking to me and making sure I am trying to get better is great."

With an extended offseason for the Dolphins Mungroo isn’t sure what the immediate plans are but he is trying to make do with what he has at home in Ladysmith.

"I have a gym here so I am trying to stay as fit as I can but I haven't done any bowling yet. We had a team meeting the other day and hopefully we'll be able to get back in the nets bowling in Durban soon."

Mungroo has set himself a very simple goal for the upcoming season as he plans to take his career to the next level.

"I want to play all formats and do as well as I can for the Dolphins because as we saw with my good friend Daryn Dupavillon if the Dolphins are doing well then the national selectors take notice," he added.