Ganesh Muhundkar's financial returns are meagre, but at the Azad Maidan yesterday, this visually impaired India cricketer had good enough figures to emerge the star of the day on the opening day
Gujarat all-rounder Ganesh Muhundkar plays a shot against Punjab on Day One of the National Blind Cricket Tournament at Azad Maidan yesterday
Ganesh Muhundkar's financial returns are meagre, but at the Azad Maidan yesterday, this visually impaired India cricketer had good enough figures to emerge the star of the day on the opening day of the National Blind Cricket Tournament.
Gujarat all-rounder Ganesh Muhundkar plays a shot against Punjab on Day One of the National Blind Cricket Tournament at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Suresh KK
Muhundkar's quickfire 30-ball 92 helped defending champions Gujarat post a mammoth 192. They lost just one wicket in their 10-over innings after which they dismissed Punjab for a mere 51 to register a comfortable 141-run win. Muhundkar claimed two wickets and effected three run-outs.
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Muhundkar (27), who has been visually impaired since birth, hails from Valsad in Gujarat. He was a member of the Indian squad that won the 2014 World Cup in South Africa where they beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.
Man of the moment
His knock of 64 won him the man-of-the-match award against Bangladesh and even though he couldn't contribute with the bat in the final, his spectacular, diving catch and a run out turned the course of the match. He finished the tournament with 75 runs in two matches. In last year's edition of the current tournament in Delhi, he scored 116 runs in five games to help Gujarat beat Andhra Pradesh in the final.
Muhundkar, who passed his Class XII, is yet to find a job. When he is not playing, he and his younger brother help their father on the farm, but the income is highly insufficient.
"I live with my parents, wife, younger brother and his wife. We completely depend on agriculture throughout the year for our livelihood," said Ganesh.
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