Team India's latest entrant Kulkarni at one time didn't even fit in his school team
Team India's latest entrant Kulkarni at one time didn't even fit in his school team
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Mumbai pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, who has been selected in the Indian Test team for the New Zealand tour. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE |
IT's true that signs of greatness can be picked early. But if not, it doesn't mean all is lost. Similarly, if you don't fit in your school cricket team, don't worry! You may still have the potential to be an international cricketer.
India's new Test selection Dhawal Kulkarni (20) is among those who developed late.
It would be difficult to convince his IES New English (Bandra) school teammates that Kulkarni is Mumbai's pace spearhead and the highest wicket-taker (42) in the Ranji Trophy this season. After all, he was not even the best pace bowler of his school team.
"He was a gentle, gentle, medium pacer. He was more of a batsman. He was an okay player. There was no spark then," his then IES New English coach Satish Samant told MiD DAY.
Opening bat to bowler
Kulkarni then left the Bandra school and joined the reputed IES VN Sule Guruji, Dadar in Class VIII. There too, he played as a batsman. "He was opening the batting for our team. He started bowling medium pace in Class IX. He gained in height suddenly and I advised him to focus more on his bowling. He learnt quickly and in the Harris Shield final next year against Rizvi Springfield he took a five-wicket haul," said school coach Gopal Koli.
Later, as coach of the Mumbai under-17 team, Samant said he was entirely surprised when he received a call from Rajesh Sanil who was coaching at Mumbai Cricket Association's Under-17 cricket camp in Chunabhatti.
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"Sanil recommended a pace bowler from his nets, who had good speed. When he took Dhawal's name, I didn't believe it. I told him that he was simply unable to deliver a ball which reaches the batsman," said Samant.
"But, I was amazed to see him. He had developed amazingly in that period. We took him in the Mumbai under-17 team. Although he bowled a bit short of length, his pace was really deceptive. He finished as the highest wicket-taker in the West Zone league. We reached the All-India final where we lost to Delhi for whom Ishant Sharma was playing," said Samant, who is now Mumbai's under-19 coach.
"Some players realise their potential late and Kulkarni was a similar case. I immediately got him a scholarship with our Air India team and sent him on a tour of Ratnagiri," said Samant, who assists in managing the Air India team.
Kulkarni now spearheads the airlines' attack. "I am very happy for him. He has got his break at the right age.
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Earlier, he used to mainly rely on hitting the seam, now he has worked on his release and is moving the ball beautifully," said Samant.
Not keen then
When reminded about his school days, Kulkarni said, "I was not too keen on cricket. I concentrated hard on studies. But I played the Shatkar Trophy and got selected for the Mumbai under-17 team. It was then I took the game seriously. I worked on my fitness and pace."
Kulkarni provides yet another example of India picking players young. He couldn't have asked for a better tour than New Zealand where conditions will suit him. Of course, he has to make the Test team first. But then, Kulkarni knows quite a bit of forcing his way into teams.
