What could possibly be the common thread in the journeys of an employee for State Bank of India in Bhopal, a college student holding a bachelor’s degree in Mumbai, and a humble hustler enrolled at the New Digamber Public School in Indore? Their undying passion for cricket. The lives of all three have been intertwined with the sport, with the connection lingering on despite financial, academic, and parental constraints respectively. Yet there seemed to be a gulf between their dream and its realization, until Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association built a bridge for the aspirants continuing to swim against the tide.
Left-arm pacer Devendra Singh Katheith, 37, has nabbed IPL fame Ashutosh Sharma and Akshat Raghuvanshi at an age where people start planning their retirement corpus. Having done his best MS Dhoni impression in his bedroom countless times after falling in love with that glory shot in ODI World Cup 2011, Vedant Awasthi went downtown in a steep chase against Bhopal Leopards to live his fantasy. Bhumesh Muzalda, an all-rounder with the patience of a saint and the willpower of an alpinist, got his moment under the sun after working hard for 13 long years. These stories are delightful additions to a pantheon of T20 cricketers who come from nowhere and leave everyone asking about their whereabouts all this while.
Behind their meteoric rise is MPCA’s Player Development Programme, a brainchild of president Mahanaaryaman Scindia. “After the inaugural Madhya Pradesh League, he wanted to introduce a model that opens doors for players who are not part of the structured ecosystem which entails the divisional and state teams,” Prasoon Kanmadikar, member of the managing committee, informs. “We introduced franchises to the concept of talent hunts and upon the conduct of trials in different cities, MPCA verified whether the two names forwarded by each team are eligible for availing this scheme.’’
The shortlisted individuals then join the camp which showed interest in their skills, getting a taste of professional cricket after an extended toil in the wilderness. Vedant, the roommate of Ajay Rohera whose record for the highest individual score on first-class debut was broken recently by Sakibul Gani, outlines the process. “I used to train at the Amay Khurasia Cricket Academy in Indore. I left for Bombay after trying my luck in Under15 with the objective of pursuing higher education. When I returned, I was 21. I’d gone away from cricket but cricket hadn’t really left me, so I thought I should have another go.”
“Since I was in touch with my club mates, I came to know about the Player Development Programme. I wasn’t able to get through in the first attempt, and the setback was demoralizing. But I dusted myself off and fine-tuned my preparation in the next twelve months to register for three trials before the current season: Gwalior Cheetahs, Bundelkhand Bulls and Jabalpur Royal Lions, which turned out to be the best in terms of exhibition of skill,” Vedant chronicles.
“Following an initial test in Indore, I was asked to report in Jabalpur for the second round. Then the franchise told me that I need not pursue other avenues as they like what they see. It is compulsory to include players entering through this procedure in at least two matches during the league stage, hence it was now simply a matter of grabbing the opportunity with both hands.’’
Smack dab in the middle of June, Ansh Badgadia added 83 runs off 36 balls with captain Aniket Verma to usher Bhopal Leopards to 223. A couple of wickets ensued an excellent PowerPlay for Jabalpur Royals Lions in pursuit, leaving Vedant with a golden chance to shine at number four. He torpedoed the figures of Manish Kumar and Pawan Nirwani in the wake of opener Arpit Gaud’s resurgence, both combining to leak 89 in six overs. Although Vedant couldn’t see the job through, his impactful 60 earned Jabalpur Royal Lions crucial points in their fourth fixture. In hindsight, it was a qualification safeguard as they embarked on a losing spree thereafter and rain arrived at the business end of the tournament to rob the mid-table units of any hope whatsoever.
“It’s an out-of-this-world feeling, personally. My friends and family were beyond thrilled after that performance. My phone is always buzzing,” Vedant says of the sudden adulation coming his way as MPLT20 is being broadcasted live. “I received a lot of backing from the coaches and support staff. They created a lovely atmosphere. I was never made to feel like an outsider. Even during the strategic timeout, I was egged on to keep batting because the team had complete faith in my ability. It gives you confidence as a player.’’
As far as support is concerned, Devendra also has plenty to be grateful about. Although he wasn’t a couch potato before becoming the most heartwarming success story of the Player Development Programme, bowling and fielding on an everyday basis in a crammed league is not everyone’s cup of tea, let alone a corporate dad pushing forty. “Obviously, agility gets affected as you grow older. The leadership group at Royal Nimar Eagles emphasized injury prevention in my case. I followed the instructions of the strength and conditioning coach as well as the physio,’’ explains Devendra, who has sent down 184 deliveries for his 11 scalps, with his finest hour worth 3/26 comprising the dismissal of Ritik Tada, a find of this edition.
Ankush Singh, the marauder of a 32-ball hundred, features in the list of his victims. So does Parth Goswami, another centurion. Besides removing the dangermen, his role as a container has shaped his franchise’s plain-sailing campaign. Bowling with the keeper up in the middle phase to keep batters rooted to their crease, Devendra has managed an economy of 7.76 in a competition where 200 has been crossed on 30 occasions. His dovetailing with Purple Cap holder Parush Mandal allows experienced spinners Kumar Kartikeya and Saransh Jain to pull out their bag of tricks without worrying about the fear-inducing dimensions of the Holkar Stadium.
Quizzed if he ever gets intimidated by the reputations around him, like Rajat Patidar, Devendra pointed towards the controllables. “Of course, I feel nervous at times. But if I ruminate over the fact that I’m bowling to a bigwig, I’m already on the backfoot psychologically. T20 is a very dynamic game and the margin for error is quite low, so if you let yourself be overwhelmed by thinking about external factors, then your core will be compromised. I focus on execution, if the opponent still prevails, hats off to them,’’ Devendra responds with the tactical maturity of an operator who’s globetrotting for a decade. The truth is, he once had to give up cricket as the cost of bowling spikes overshot his family budget. For the uninitiated, a good pair from Asics can set you back 15,000 INR.
“I loved cricket as a kid, especially fast bowling. I wanted to play continuously but my career wasn’t going anywhere so I had to quell my ambitions. Only after I completed my post-graduation and landed a decent job is when I thought I can pay the bills and freely commit to an expensive sport such as cricket,’’ Devendra apprises. “I represented my bank branch in corporate leagues, staying connected to the technical side of the game via ex-Ranji Trophy cricketers belonging to Bhopal. Sure, I was not competing at the highest level but that exposure ensured I was ready when destiny came calling.’’
If Devendra yearned for a platform to prove his mettle notwithstanding his stop-start graph, imagine the earnest desire Bhumesh would have been carrying in his chest as he dedicated his entire existence to a mission, one that his parents weren’t fully onboard with. “After the son reaches a particular age it is natural for parents in the Indian society to be concerned about his financial future. Cricket is anyway a risky endeavour,” Bhumesh admits. “I assured them with examples of Rishabh Chauhan and Sagar Solanki, who started playing alongside me and gained prominence. Yet, doubts remained at their end, leading to arguments. I was steadfast in my belief that I am capable enough to advance. I just needed more time.’’
His near and dear ones may have been placated by his persistence, but in reality, the clock was ticking for the southpaw. Spotted by former Ranji Trophy keeper-bat Ankit Dane, Bhumesh had gone through the age-group grind in Indore without as much as an iota of reward, for the competition there is the most cut-throat out of the ten divisions in Madhya Pradesh. By his own admission, Bhumesh was running on reserves. “Take, for instance, fitness, an intrinsic part of the lifestyle elite cricketers have. On the contrary, for a struggling player like me, it is a personal choice given the lack of motivation or momentum. Life is quite uncertain. An opportunity can fall in your lap anytime. That was my guiding principle, to be equipped in the event of a breakthrough.’’
That work ethic put him a cut above the rest in the auditions for Bundelkhand Bulls. He scored a century in an evaluation tie, sealing a moment of sheer joy for his family. “Now they’re convinced that I am on the right path. They attend all my games and even if my performance goes down, they uplift my morale. I’m glad to witness that transformation in their attitude. Cricket is my life, so by understanding cricket they’re now attaching themselves to my life,” he philosophized.
A three-dimensional cricketer, Bhumesh has not warmed the bench in this season so far, save for an encounter versus Rewa Jaguars. Apart from a sizzling cameo and an effective spell, his contributions have appeared in the form of fielding, like an athletic catch attempt at mid-wicket. In the second innings, Darshan Rathod, manning long-on for Ujjain Falcons, dropped jaws with his superhuman grab. Discussing the improved catching standards at the rear end of MPLT20, Prasoon notes that acclimatisation is the key tenet of the Player Development Programme.
“While the franchises organized sessions in floodlit venues to make sure the players are tracking the ball properly at night, MPCA also invited the teams to train at Holkar Stadium for a couple of days each. Our aim is to broaden the horizons, and prepare our talent pool for the rigors of top-flight cricket. Sound, cameras, public pressure! It is incumbent on MPCA to prepone that learning curve so that players are not found wanting when they progress to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or IPL.’’
It is important to remember that MPLT20, akin to other state franchise leagues, not only serves as a screening space for IPL but also domestic cricket. “Besides the scouts, the selection panel of MPCA is watching all the games. If a player does well, the divisional hierarchy also takes cognizance,’’ Prasoon stresses.
Keeping in mind the pipeline, an age limit of 25 years was imposed on candidates for the Player Development Programme in the year of its launching. To cast a wider net, the restriction was eventually repealed, enabling Bhumesh and Devendra’s entry into the fold. “I feel proud of myself for never giving up despite the challenges,’’ Bhumesh avers. “Finally, the stars have aligned in my favour.’’
