I still remember, Kuppusamy uncle once came to my home when I was studying fifth standard and said that he is playing basket ball for SSP team. He asked my dad to allow me to come to ground daily. Thats how I started playing games. First I used to play basket ball and after some time I was interested in cricket too. Daily I have to cross the cricket ground and then reach the basket ball ground. I used to see them practicing at nets and I liked the game so much. I started going to the nets. The people who are on nets would not allow to take the bat unless he is fit for the game. Daily I used to take catch practice and field in the nets. It went for two years in the same manner. One of the players in the SSP cricket team (Soundhar sir) joined my school as PT teacher. He knows that I was going to the nets daily and he selected me in the school senior team when I was studying 9th. Its very rare a 9th standard student gets selected to a senior cricket team in my school because only 10th standard students would be selected for the team. My PT sir didn't know how effectively I would bat. My first match was against Bala Barathi school at my home ground. We were chasing and our team batsmen failed completely and I was sent after 7 wickets fell down. I played two sweeps and a square cut which impressed my PT sir a lot. He didn't think I would play strokes. I was run out that match and I scored 7 runs and I was the highest scorer in that match. You might think how other batsmen would have batted !! But this performance didn't fetch me a place in the team.
Three months after my first match our school participated in Goldenites cricket tournament conducted by Golden Gates school, Salem. Luckily I was selected in the squad and I knew that definitely I would not be in the playing eleven. Our first match was against our rival Holy Cross. The tournament was conducted in Sona engineering college ground. We started from our school around 7 am and our team opening batsmen escaped an accident and the driver of that vehicle scolded him too much. He felt so bad and he came along with us to the match. Finally when our PT sir was writing playing eleven he went to him and said he cannot play as he was feeling feverish after that incident. Thats how I came to the playing eleven. Our team captain Murali won the toss and he elected to bat. My PT sir asked me to pad up and be ready to open the innings. I was shocked as I have never played at position one !!! I was ready and everyone from my team gave me lot of advice. My PT sir asked me to stay in the crease for atleast ten overs and play my natural game. He asked me to hit only the loose balls. Selva and I entered the ground and Selva asked me to face the first ball !! I didn't wear helmet and I was fearing what to do when a bouncer was bowled. I also made up my mind that if I play well in that match I can find a secure place in the team. I started very slowly but confidently. I used to take single and give strike to Selva. He on the other end used to hit fours and sixes. I hit 17 runs in that match which was so much valuable and I stayed for exactly ten overs. We won that match. My PT sir was so much satisfied with my performance and I found a secure place as opening batsman in my school team. We were runners up in that tournament.
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