Many talented cricketers, including India icon Sachin Tendulkar, have emerged from the Shardashram Vidyamandir's stables where coach Ramakant Achrekar had a special role to play in nurturing raw talent. The latest to join that list is young wicketkeeper-batsman Vedant Murkar, who was recently selected to lead the India U-19 'B' team for the upcoming Quadrangular one-day series comprising U-19 teams of India 'A', Afghanistan and Nepal that in Lucknow from September 12.

Vedant, who is incidentally coached by Achrekar's grandson Pradosh Mayekar, has been a consistent performer at different age group competitions for Mumbai and even at the U-19 zonal tournaments. A call from BCCI caught the Worli Koliwada-based cricketer by surprise. "To get selected in India's U-19 team at just 16 was a huge surprise and to lead the team is a really big opportunity for me," Vedant told mid-day. The young cricketer has already begun his homework.