By Alfie, Pics by JP, Team Mangalorean
Mangaluru: Karnataka State Cricket Association-Mangalore Zone had organized a “Awards Function” and also to felicitate Indian Test Cricketer Chiranjeevi K L Rahul, at glittering ceremony held at Hotel Ocean Pearl here on Tuesday, 31 March at 6pm. It is said, to have a vision is essential and that is what makes life going, and so on behalf of office bearers of KSCA-Mangalore Zone, its chairman Rathan Kumar rendered his sentiments while addressing the audience and introducing the dignitaries on the dais namely Brijseh P Patel- Honorary Secretary of KSCA; Manohar Amin-Convenor-KSCA-MZ; N C Girish- Zone InCharge; A V Sashidhar- Zonal Coordinator; P Dayanand Pai-Treasurer-KSCA; KL Rahul- Test cricketer and Rathan Kumar-Chairman-KSCA-MZ.
It is the love of the game that keeps them on the go, the commitment they have made to foster the game in the Zone. To shed light on the activities of Mangalore Zone of KSCA, convener Manohar Amin addressing the gathering said, ” We are indeed proud that a “homeboy” who played on the grounds of Nehru Maidan has reached to play in International test matches. Dakshina Kannada has the potential to produce good cricketers, but we lack proper cricket ground. We just had a discussion with the DC AB Ibrahim, and he has assured us full support in finding a exclusive ground for cricket. I only wish that our dreams of having a better cricket ground will come true shortly”.
KSCA treasurer Dayanand Pai speaking during the occasion said, ” We should be proud of DK which has produced great athletes, sportsmen, doctors. engineers and so on. DK has the potential not only in the educational field, but also in sports field. Rahul continues the legacy of past cricketers that this district has produced. We surely need a better cricket stadium, and now with Rahul’s influence at national and international level, I think we can have a cricket stadium soon. Like they say, where there is a will, there’s a way, and let’s hope that DK gets a brand new cricket stadium soon. Youngsters should show interest in sports, and they should follow in the footsteps of Rahul, and be great cricketers like him.”
KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel addressing the gathering said, ” Although our Indian cricket team didn’t succeed in bagging the World Cup, but the team played a good match till the end. The boys worked hard with dedication and made it to the semi-finals. It’s nice to note that KL Rahul is doing extremely well in his cricket career, and youngsters should follow in his footsteps to be professional cricketers. In cricket there is always pressure while playing, and I know that Rahul has gone through it and has done his best to attain glory. Mangalore needs a better cricket ground- I already met the DC, and again tomorrow we will looking for other lands suitable for a cricket stadium. An indoor stadium is very much needed in DK due to heavy monsoon rains. I am thrilled to see that the members of this cricket Zone are doing a great job in promoting cricket. They all need your help in building a new stadium. Now that your local boy Rahul has reached greater heights and made some big bucks, he too should contribute financially to the construction of the new stadium”.
After the introduction of KL Rahul to the audience, his teacher Smt Shaeen Masood at NITK School-Surathkal shared her reminiscences on her student Rahul. Even his close friend Rakshith Suvarna, and couple other classmates shared their association and fun that they had with Rahul during their teenage days. Truly, to count on someone and call them ones friend, to have been together in good times and bad, to share moments that cleaves them and holds them bound is the most special thing in life- and that’s what these friends dearly shared their feelings and friendship that they had with Rahul.
To acknowledge, admire, respect and rejoice in others victory is the gesture of a magnanimous and genteel people and the people of coastal town are best known for these very qualities- and it was the moment when people of DK appreciate Rahul for what he has achieved, who has become a brightest star in the wide cosmos of cricket, it was indeed time to felicitate KL Rahul for his contribution towards cricket. Rahul was felicitated by all the dignitaries present on the dais.
In response to the felicitation, KL Rahul expressed his gratitude saying, ” First of all I thank my parents who are amidst us for all the support, encouragement, their advises, and caring me all these years. What I am today is because of my parents, my teachers and my cricket coaches- they were and are my backbone for my achievements in life and cricket career. My teachers taught me life values, my cricket coaches taught me the basics of cricket and much more. I am grateful to my coaches who picked me among the 400 plus young cricketers to represent in state and national matches, which has now led me to play in international matches.”
Rahul in lighter side of vein continued saying” To my friends who never said anything good about me during those younger days, I really appreciate that they came forward today and expressed their kind words of wisdom and showed their love towards me- thank you, pals”. He further said, ” I only wish that my success story in cricket world would inspire the younger generation to take up cricket seriously, and some day be top Indian cricket players. I will be anxiously looking forward for yet another local boy in the dressing room, which will surely make me proud that one more DK youngster has joined the Indian cricket team. You can do it through hard work, dedication and sincere commitment towards the sport. I have been lately getting tons of SMSs, Tweets that I have a bright future in cricket, and I hope that it will be true. My one kind request for the KSCA board members is that to arrange an International cricket match here in DK/Mangaluru, because I want to come back and play on the land where I mastered in cricket and succeeded in my cricket career. Thank you all for your unstinted support and blessings”.
They work day and night, they keep each ward in their sight, given the choice every boy or girl that they guide to them are stars, and they are the coaches who have selflessly worked for the development of these youngsters, and for the good of the game, they need to be kept in the hearts of the players and their parents, they do it for mo reward except the success of their wards- and during this occasion coaches Jayaraj Muthu and Devadas Nayak of KSCA-MZ were also felicitated for their tremendous commitment to the welfare of the cricket sport and the sportsmen.
Then it was time to present the awards to the winners in various cricket tournament conducted during the year 2014-15. Manohar Anchan of KSCA-MZ conducted the awards ceremony, where winners in Under 14 yrs, Under 16 yrs, Pre-University College, Inter college-I, II and III division were awarded.The vote of thanks was proposed by Manohar Amin, and the entire function was professionally compered by his wife, Shobhana M Amin.
Chiranjeevi K L Rahul- a brief Profile:
KL Rahul was born on 18 April 1992 in Mangalore, to K N Lokesh, who is a professor at NITK-Surathkal, and Rajeshwari C- a professor in History at Mangalore University. Commonly known as Rahul, is an Indian cricketer who plays for Karnataka. He is a right-handed batsman and occasionally keeps the wicket. Rahul played for India at the 2010 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He was a part of the IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013. In 2014, he was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 1 crore at the auction. Rahul started his international career debuting against Australia in the 2014-2015 Test series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground replacing Rohit Sharma. He was handed over the Test cap by MS Dhoni. He is also being called ‘Rahul 2.0’ for the same defensive batting technique as his hero. His batting style has added his impression to the selectors.
Rahul made his debut in the 2010-11 season, playing first-class cricket for Karnataka. He became the first triple centurion for Karnataka in a first class match on 30 January 2015, playing against Uttar Pradesh and scoring 337 in M. Chinnaswamy Stadium,Bengaluru. He made his debut in Indian Premier League in 2014, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad.[1] On 29 January, 2015 Lokesh Rahul slammed 337 of 448 balls smashing 47 fours and 4 sixes against Uttar Pradesh. It was the first triple century scored by a Karnataka batsman. In the same season (2014-15 Ranji Trophy), he averaged a Bradman-eque 93.11 in the nine matches he played.
After an excellent domestic performance in the year 2014 for Karnataka, Rahul was picked for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy(2014) against Australia. He was picked to be a part of the playing eleven for the Boxing Day Test beginning on 26 December 2014 at the MCG. He made low scores in both the innings of his first test playing very poor shots. On 8 January 2015, he made his Maiden test match hundred against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
