‘Passion, discipline, hard work are key’
SHARING EXPERIENCE Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar gives tips to Mumbai’s budding school cricketers on building a successful career
zeal to better himself remained a constant. Vengsarkar wants kids to emulate that. “When you go to the nets, find ways to improve. Just keep improving, whether at the skills or temperament level. Temperament is something you can develop while playing in a match. That is something that will definitely help,” he says.
The former India captain, nicknamed ‘Colonel’, cautions the young generation against succumbing to distractions that go with modern-day cricket. “You have to be disciplined. If you’re not, you won’t reach anywhere in life,” he says.
According to Vengsarkar, it’s also important that kids give as much value to education.
“Education also is important. Not everybody can play for India. But if you have education plus the talent to play cricket, you can make a career even after retirement. The life span of a cricketer is very limited—one can play for 15-20 years at the most. After that you should get a good job or start something on your own,” Vengsarkar, who has donned the hat of an administrator and also run cricket academies in the state since retirement, says.
Mumbai cricket got a huge fillip in the previous domestic season with its U-16 team clinching the Vijay Merchant Trophy in Dharamsala, beating Punjab in the final. A number of players who participated in the HT-MSSA Super Cup last year were part of that champion squad, and Vengsarkar felt the initiative has helped inspire kids to perform at a higher level.
“HT is doing a fantastic job honouring the kids who have been selected and who have been playing for Mumbai. It can only inspire the players to do better and better,” Vengsarkar says.
“Newspapers have played a crucial role in the growth of cricket. Especially at school level, it is a huge motivation for youngsters to find their names in print. I remember how I would get a kick seeing my name in the newspapers during my childhood.
“Giles and Harris Shield have been at the heart of Mumbai’s dominance of Indian cricket. Right from the beginning, these tourneys have provided a platform to players to showcase their skills and rise to fame,” he adds.