 |
Krishna Narayan is popular on the web for his cricketing skills
|
Shot! Through the covers and... it’s a four.’’ Standing in a corner of the living room, a little boy is busy driving, flicking and punching with his Mongoose bat after tossing a tennis ball against the wall.
After every stroke, his commentary follows. At another time, he can be seen throwing the ball quickly against the wall and trying various modes of catching. He cannot live without cricket even for a minute inside his home.
Meet Krishna Narayan, a native of Vallikkunnu in Malappuram, and a Class II student of St. Paul’s School, Thenhipalam, perhaps the most illustrious seven-year-old Keralite on the web at present.
Playing every shot with natural ease, Krishna gives the impression that he was born to play this game, even though it is pretty early to make such predictions.
“This guy will break all the batting records,’’ said former West Indian captain Richie Richardson, in a written comment after seeing Krishna’s video on Youtube. Dav Whatmore and Anil Kumble too echoed the Windies maestro’s words. What’s more, Krishna is the only Indian cricketer who is sponsored by Mongoose Cricket Limited, London. Stanford Cricket Industries, Meerut, provides him custom-made playing equipment for free.
“All these are nothing but God’s grace,’’ says Rajesh Kumar, Krishna’s father who is a software programmer.
Nearly five years ago, Rajesh, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, bought a mini plastic bat for his child during a visit to Guruvayur Temple. The living room soon turned into a cricket pitch, with Krishna playing textbook strokes with a straight bat, and with style and elegance. In course of time, tennis ball and wooden bat replaced the plastic equipment. And one day, Rajesh shot his son batting, using his camcorder, when he was three-and-a-half years old.
Meet Krishna Narayan, a native of Vallikkunnu in Malappuram, and a Class II student of St. Paul’s School, Thenhipalam, perhaps the most illustrious seven-year-old Keralite on the web at present.
Playing every shot with natural ease, Krishna gives the impression that he was born to play this game, even though it is pretty early to make such predictions.
“This guy will break all the batting records,’’ said former West Indian captain Richie Richardson, in a written comment after seeing Krishna’s video on Youtube. Dav Whatmore and Anil Kumble too echoed the Windies maestro’s words. What’s more, Krishna is the only Indian cricketer who is sponsored by Mongoose Cricket Limited, London. Stanford Cricket Industries, Meerut, provides him custom-made playing equipment for free.
“All these are nothing but God’s grace,’’ says Rajesh Kumar, Krishna’s father who is a software programmer.
Nearly five years ago, Rajesh, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, bought a mini plastic bat for his child during a visit to Guruvayur Temple. The living room soon turned into a cricket pitch, with Krishna playing textbook strokes with a straight bat, and with style and elegance. In course of time, tennis ball and wooden bat replaced the plastic equipment. And one day, Rajesh shot his son batting, using his camcorder, when he was three-and-a-half years old.
“Actually, my intention was to evaluate his batting,” says Rajesh. “But my nephew Jithin insisted that I upload it on Youtube. Though a bit reluctant, I agreed. And now I believe everything happened because of that.”
Soon, there came the first comment from the United States for the ‘young little cricketer’ video. Later, a personal message arrived from Rejith Rajendran, an official of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) offering support. Later, Rejith introduced coach Biju George of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to Rajesh.
“My acquaintance with Biju Sir has been one of the most happiest and luckiest moments in my life,’’ says Rajesh.
Having seen the video, which now has 4.18 lakh hits, the Ireland-based Lekka Sports asked Rajesh to submit his son’s bat size to Stanford Cricket Industries (SF), with whom they have a business arrangement. But the reply from SF was an apology saying that such mini-size equipment was not manufactured by them.
Rajesh sent the link of the video to the company. SF official Anil Sareen was so impressed by the batting display of Krishna that the company offered to sponsor custom-made equipment for the wunderkind.
Then came another surprise—a complete sponsorship deal from Mongoose Cricket Limited. However, Rajesh accepted the equipment sponsorship only from Mongoose. “At that time he was playing with a tennis ball. I could not predict whether he would continue playing with a cricket ball in future. Besides, I did not want to compel him,” Rajesh says. “For Krishna, the greatest achievement was the selection to the National Cricket Academy, Bangalore, for a camp in the under-12 category in February 2010. Unfortunately, the camp was postponed to a future date and later called off.”
Meanwhile, the little-master-in-the-making is looking prim, even without his incisors. Where have they gone? The answer is a cute smile. He hardly speaks, and scurries over to where he likes to be the most: the practice pitch.
He is extremely happy at getting a chance to play in the nets for the photographer. “I hardly get any practice these days because of the rain,” the boy complains, as his father helps him to wear the chest guard and thigh pad. In his white T-shirt and white pants, and wearing custom-made pads and a helmet, Krishna looks impressive.
At the nets, Krishna is unstoppable. He hits with enormous power: the ball moves like a rocket. The cover drive is his favourite, but no shot seems difficult. “Krishna,” Rajesh says after nearly half an hour. “It’s enough. Only three more balls for you.” But Krishna is not willing to stop. “Father, I just want to hit those stumps,” the boy says, pointing at the wicket placed at the short cover position for taking photographs.
And just to prove that it is no empty boast, the little master’s stunning drive, off the third ball, knocks down the stumps with a bang. A big win for this little champion, who longs to meet Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble.
Soon, there came the first comment from the United States for the ‘young little cricketer’ video. Later, a personal message arrived from Rejith Rajendran, an official of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) offering support. Later, Rejith introduced coach Biju George of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to Rajesh.
“My acquaintance with Biju Sir has been one of the most happiest and luckiest moments in my life,’’ says Rajesh.
Having seen the video, which now has 4.18 lakh hits, the Ireland-based Lekka Sports asked Rajesh to submit his son’s bat size to Stanford Cricket Industries (SF), with whom they have a business arrangement. But the reply from SF was an apology saying that such mini-size equipment was not manufactured by them.
Rajesh sent the link of the video to the company. SF official Anil Sareen was so impressed by the batting display of Krishna that the company offered to sponsor custom-made equipment for the wunderkind.
Then came another surprise—a complete sponsorship deal from Mongoose Cricket Limited. However, Rajesh accepted the equipment sponsorship only from Mongoose. “At that time he was playing with a tennis ball. I could not predict whether he would continue playing with a cricket ball in future. Besides, I did not want to compel him,” Rajesh says. “For Krishna, the greatest achievement was the selection to the National Cricket Academy, Bangalore, for a camp in the under-12 category in February 2010. Unfortunately, the camp was postponed to a future date and later called off.”
Meanwhile, the little-master-in-the-making is looking prim, even without his incisors. Where have they gone? The answer is a cute smile. He hardly speaks, and scurries over to where he likes to be the most: the practice pitch.
He is extremely happy at getting a chance to play in the nets for the photographer. “I hardly get any practice these days because of the rain,” the boy complains, as his father helps him to wear the chest guard and thigh pad. In his white T-shirt and white pants, and wearing custom-made pads and a helmet, Krishna looks impressive.
At the nets, Krishna is unstoppable. He hits with enormous power: the ball moves like a rocket. The cover drive is his favourite, but no shot seems difficult. “Krishna,” Rajesh says after nearly half an hour. “It’s enough. Only three more balls for you.” But Krishna is not willing to stop. “Father, I just want to hit those stumps,” the boy says, pointing at the wicket placed at the short cover position for taking photographs.
And just to prove that it is no empty boast, the little master’s stunning drive, off the third ball, knocks down the stumps with a bang. A big win for this little champion, who longs to meet Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble.
(The New Indian Express, Sunday Magazine, July 2011)
No comments:
Post a Comment