INDORE: A few young city-based cricketers who had a chance to bowl and practice with the Indian players were elated with the once in a lifetime opportunity.
Fifteen-year-old Arslan Khan who was one of the net bowlers seemed ecstatic to witness his idol Tendulkar knocking for over one and a half hours constantly on Saturday at the indoor ground.
“I was mesmerized to see his shots. Although, I didn’t get to bowl for him, I was constantly looking at his batting technique.He was extremely kind and we also got a picture with him,” Khan told TOI.
Around 10 nets bowlers who are registered with the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) had been called in rounds for different all the legends of India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri-Lanka and England who have been in the city for matches.
“As the indoor match has comparatively less space so at a time along with the teams, only four to five bowlers at one time. On Saturday, my friends had come and on Sunday it was my chance. As the players practiced on the ground due to clear weather, it was perfect time and I asked many questions related to technicalities of the game,” Vedant Chouksey told TOI.
As the Indian team was practising during the day time on Sunday, chief curator of MPCA, Samandar Singh went to Tendulkar to get his autograph on the ball which holds Tendulkar’s historic memory made him emotional.
Tendulkar had scored a brilliant 200 against South Africa at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior in 2010 on February 24 to become the first person to score a double century in one day cricket.
Singh who was with his colleague at the ground was handed over the ball used in the innings by his colleague.
“When he requested me to let him keep the ball for his museum, I got extremely overwhelmed. He asked me about my well-being and even my shoe size. He suggested his manager to get me new shoes too,” added the curator.
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