The batsman scored a magnificent 160 yesterday to put defending champions Sule Guruji in the driver's seat on Day One of the Giles Shield Elite Division semi-final against Anjuman-I-Islam
Thirteen-year-old Hrushikesh Padwal’s family relocated from Vikhroli to Currey Road so that he could be admitted to Dadar’s IES VN Sule Guruji (Dadar) and fulfill his cricketing ambitions. The move seems to have worked in favour of the batsman, who scored a magnificent 160 yesterday to put defending champions Sule Guruji in the driver’s seat on Day One of the Giles Shield Elite Division semi-final against Anjuman-I-Islam (Urdu) at Cross Maidan.
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Opting to bat after winning the toss, Sule Guruji ended the day with a healthy 384-8 in 86 overs. Though yesterday’s knock is his highest score in the tournament, Hrushikesh was disappointed to miss out on his maiden double ton.
“This is my personal best performance in this tournament so far. But my aim was to score a double hundred and I was unfortunate,” the 13-year-old, who has scored 344 runs in four matches, lamented. For Anjuman, pacer Aman Singh was the standout bowler, taking 4-70. After Sule Guruji lost opener Darshan off the first ball itself, Hrushikesh took control to put his team in command.
Hrushikesh said the decision to switch schools has helped him prove his skills. “We have our own flat in Vikhroli, but my parents shifted to a rented accommodation in Currey Road so that I could pursue a career in cricket.
“I studied in Don Bosco (Vikhroli) till Class III, but as there was no cricket played in that school, I switched to Shardashram (English). However, when I didn’t get to play in the Elite Division I switched to Sule Guruji this year and have had a fantastic season so far,” he said.u00a0