Where promises translated into results

M Karthik Saran’s life reads like a filmy script. From being a daily wage labourer to a professional cricketer, it took him less than three years to make a mark. “Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I would become a Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) cricketer one day,” Karthik Saran beams with pride.

Karthik Saran was one who was handpicked by Indian international Ravichandran Ashwin for Dindigul Dragons team in TNPL, after his impressive show in the net practice sessions during Ranji Trophy matches.

Hailing from Chinnalapatti, a small town near Dindigul, famous for sarees with unique weaving style, Karthik Saran had his task cut out as he lost his father quite early and his mother worked as a domestic help to feed the family. 

Despite living in abject penury, his mother sent him to school. But during holidays, when children of his age were playing, young Karthik Saran had to go for work to make both ends meet. “I used to see boys playing cricket with rubber ball. In those days I would yearn to play. Whenever I got time, I played with them,” he says.

He was introduced to proper cricket only at college. His chance meeting with N Venkatraman, secretary, Dindigul District Cricket Association, became the turning point in his life. “He saw my game and introduced me to proper cricket with red cherry. Till then I was playing rubber ball or tennis ball cricket,” he says.

A fast bowling all-rounder that he is, Karthik proved his worth when he was picked for the district under-23 team. Later, under the guidance of Venkatraman, he started his career in Chennai fourth division league. His performances promoted him to second division league. He got a chance to bowl at some of the best in the State cricket in the nets when Tamil Nadu played Ranji matches in Natham.

Seeing him bowl with vigour and passion, Ravichandran Ashwin spotted him for Dindigul Dragons team in TNPL. “Earlier, my mother did not like me playing cricket. She had even hid my kit bag a couple of times. But now, cricket has been my bread and butter and she has understood this. Not just because of the money I am getting, but the sense of satisfaction I get when I pursue what I dreamt of in my life,” says Karthik Saran.

Left-arm pace bowler R Suthesh’s cricketing journey is nothing short of brilliance. Born to a panchamirtham seller in Palani, Suthesh could have easily drifted away from continuing with his passion, that is playing cricket. Brushing aside family’s financial constraints, Suthesh focused on cricket. 

His perseverance paid him as he read about district selection trials in dailies and went to Dindigul to attend the trials. “Initially, I had no idea whatsoever. But, when I was picked up for the team, life changed drastically, I started to take up cricket more seriously. Understanding my predicament, Venkatraman stood behind me. From cricketing kit to sponsoring my transport expenses from Palani to Dindigul, he did everything for me,” he says.

Within a short span of time, he got a chance to play in the Chennai second division league. His good performances promoted him to first division league. His splendid seven wicket haul against West Bengal in the under-23 quarterfinals in Kolkata and string of five wicket hauls in the first division one-day league, earned him a berth in State Ranji team. That season, he scalped more than 20 wickets. His impressive show prompted him to be picked for Royal Challengers, Bangalore. “I was in the squad but I did not get a chance,” he says.

In TNPL, he played for Ruby Trichy Warriors in the first season and Chepauk Super Gillies in the second, he did not play third year and this year he represented VB Kanchi Veerans.

For M Mohammed from Pillaiyarnatham, he need not go anywhere looking for potential cricketers to play with, for he had two elder brothers who were seasoned cricketers. 

It was not easy for their father Mohammed Salim to equally feed on the aspirations of three of his children with the meagre sum he earned in his scrap business. “That also diminished when my father suffered from a heart attack. At that time, it was my brothers who supported me and motivated me,” says Mohammed.

Brothers Mohammed Rafiq, Abdul Rahim and Mohammed all played brilliantly. At one point of time, Abdul led the Dindigul district under-19 team and Mohammed led the district under-16 team. “In fact Abdul was the first one from our family to play in Chennai first division league. 

I followed suit. Early in my career, I started as a batsman who can bowl. When I was picked for combined districts team, there were a lot of technically sound batsmen and since I was a good fast bowler, I was slotted as fast bowler in that team. Indian international Vijay Shankar was my batchmate at that time,” he says.

When he was playing for UFCC in the Chennai second division league, he got a call from Jaffar, who knew Mohammed’s credentials as an under-16 coach, to join his team India Pistons. He agreed and that year he got into the Ranji team.

In TNPL, he played for Lyca Kovai Kings and for the past two years he is playing for Dindigul Dragons. His name also came up for grabs in IPL auction list but none of the teams picked him.

Hitting centuries is like having a cup of tea for young M Boopathi. Just read the scores, 200, 300, 100, 100…  The southpaw created history of sorts in the under-16 P R Thevar Trophy last year hitting centuries at will. Just by the merit of his scoring ability, he got into State under-16 team and there too he made a mark hitting a century against Goa.

Hailing from the nondescript Nettiyapatti village near Kannivadi town, Boopathi was introduced to cricket when he was a four-year-old kid. His father P Marimuthu and uncle Kumar were his first coaches. “From that time, I did not miss a single day to visit the ground.

I attended the district selection trials under the guidance of my neighbour Moorthy. In subsequent school cricket games, I hit five centuries in five matches,” he says.

He had a good launch pad and that fetched him a place in the district under-16 team. String of good performances got him a place in the under-19 district and combined districts teams. His latest score being an unbeaten 124 for combined districts team against the City XI in the one-dayer.

Scoring 596 runs in a season, he became the leading run scorer in the Dindigul first division league.

“All these players are much talented and have made wonderful use of their opportunities. With skill on their hand what they needed was moral support, which we provided and the result is here for everyone to see,” says Venkatraman.

G Periyasamy’s cricketing career is built on perseverance and passion for the game. Just in his first year TNPL appearance, he rose to fame with a five-wicket man of the match performance that was instrumental for Chepauk Super Gillies to lift the trophy. “I know how important it is for me to perform at this stage to gain attention. I just did that,” he says.

Despite losing sight on right eye due to chickenpox, he continued to nurture his passion. Braving rejection, Periyasamy practised hard and soon reaped rich dividends, when his friends took him on board. Hailing from Chinnappampatti near Salem, he had to travel to Salem city for any good cricket game. With a paltry sum his father Ganesan was earning from the petty shop, it was difficult for Periyasamy to fulfill all his cricketing needs.

Periyasamy’s never-say-die attitude propelled him to participate in the selection trials for the district team. Deceptively quick bowler that Periyasamy is, he immediately got selected.

“But if not for State cricketer Natarajan and Jayaprakash, I would not have come this far. They supported me morally and financially,” he says. Having set his sight firmly now, he plays for UFCC in the Chennai second division league and wants to play in big leagues.