India's everywhere

World champions Australia are a notable exception in this regard but, according to the cognoscente, the day is not far when opening batsman Usman Khawaja whose parents migrated to Australia via Pakistan, will wear his country's baggy green.


Names of payers of India origins around the world that come readily to mind, among many, include Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren Ganga and Dinesh Ramdin of the West Indies, Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara and Monty Panesar of England, Jeetan Patel of New Zealand, Imran Khan and Hashim Amla from South Africa.

Players of Indian origin, like Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies, are seen in most international cricket teams

Another exciting prospect is 20-year-old opening batsman Jeet Raval, who scored 256 for Auckland (New Zealand) against Central Districts on Monday.

On the day when India's Test batting greats drew the Napier Test after a stoical battle of attrition over three days, Raval batted for over 10 hours spanning two days and faced 483 balls, hitting 43 fours and two sixes, while scoring the third highest individual score for Auckland and the third-best maiden century in New Zealand.

Amazingly, Raval, whose parents migrated to New Zealand four years ago, started his career as a number 11 batsman.

"I played under-15 and under-17 for Gujarat and when I made my debut I bowled right-arm medium-fast... and batted at number 11," he toldu00a0 the New Zealand Herald.

"Then one day I batted at number nine and made 21, batting all day. Next time I started as opener and got 100 for the state under-15 team and I've opened ever since."

Jeet tearfully acknowledged the contribution of his parents, Ashok and Kalpana, who watched their son's maiden first-class hundred on Sunday.

"I think they too shed a few tears," he said. "They made a lot of sacrifices so that I could have the chance of a successful career and I owe them a lot."

Raval, a vegetarian, reportedly suffered debilitating cramps before reaching his first century as the result of not eating and drinking enough. Later, he strained his left groin and finished his knock with a runner.

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