Team members of Rizvi Springfield and Hansraj Morarji Public School witnessed a thrilling experience at the Wankhede Stadium last week during their Harris Shield final.
The Harris Shield-winning Rizvi Springfield team at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday after beating Hansraj Morarji. PIC/PRAKASH PARSEKAR
Team members of Rizvi Springfield and Hansraj Morarji Public School witnessed a thrilling experience at the Wankhede Stadium last week during their Harris Shield final. We are not referring to shots from their punitive blades, a great catch or a rash of wickets, but the thrill of being in dressing rooms which were graced by the finest names in international cricket.
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The cricket authorities must be commended for hosting the premier inter-school tournament finale at the iconic ground on which Rizvi Springfield romped to a 10-wicket victory on Saturday.
The feeling of pride to occupy the dressing rooms named after Vijay Manjrekar was not lost on the young guns. The home dressing room was used by Rizvi Springfield while Hansraj Morarji were in the visitors' den. "I was awestruck. It was really special for me to play where I have seen my idols perform. We couldn't believe we had reached the final and were finally stepping into the dressing room. It was an amazing feeling," said Hansraj's Aaryan Sen, whose 5 for 41 gave Rizvi the jitters.
Rizvi’s Shreyas Mandlik receives his best player of the tournament prize from MCA Jt Secretary Dr PV Shetty. PIC/Binaisha M Surti
"We were elated. We sat on all the chairs around us thinking that the England players too sat here (in the third India vs England Test) and enjoyed every second of it,"
said Hansraj skipper Furquan Charolia. There was a special thrill for Rizvi skipper Shreyas Mandlik. "I was very excited to play and lead my side at Wankhede as all international matches are held here. It was a great experience in the dressing room," said Shreyas, while Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Rizvi leg-spinner who claimed six wickets in the match, revealed he had realised a dream. "I always had a dream to play in this stadium especially after India won the 2011 World Cup and Sachin Tendulkar played his final Test match here. I can't express what I felt when I stepped into the same dressing room where Tendulkar spent a lot of time in," remarked Yashasvi, who claimed five wickets to bowl out Hansraj for 69 in their second innings.
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