Jamshedpur, July 15: After being declared the best Ranji bowler by the state cricket body, Shiv Shankar Rao is raring to go at the batsmen in the upcoming matches.

The 23-year-old Rao emerged as the highest wicket-taker for Jharkhand by claiming 30 wickets in Ranji Trophy. ?It was a satisfying performance last season. But I will not sit on my laurels. I will like to take more wickets in the coming season to help my team qualify for the elite tier,? Rao, who bowls with a high action, told The Telegraph.

The medium pacer, who did not play junior cricket and straightaway got selected for Ranji Trophy, added that he would like to bowl faster in future and will rely on his natural outswinger.

He made his Ranji debut against Tripura in 2000. His best bowling figure is 6 for 42 against Orissa in the last season. He bettered his own performance of 6 for 48 against Vidharbha in Nagpur in 2003. He claimed a match haul of 10 wickets on both the occasions that helped his side win matches.

He was the only one to be selected for the MRF Pace Academy camp in Chennai from June 27 to July 4 and later to Bangalore for a special coaching camp at the National Cricket Academy.