Ludhiana lad debuts international cricket with a smashing six

LUDHIANA: Proving his batting mettle in his debut match against Sri Lanka at NCC stadium in

Colombo

on Wednesday, as part of Under-19 India team, local boy Nehal Wadhera (17) smashed 81 off just 117 balls with a strike rate of 69.23. Following the Sri Lankan side, which was packed off at 244 all out on Tuesday, the Indian side created a solid lead with Ayush Badoni and Nehal still on the crease at the end of the second day. India lost five wickets at 473 at the end of the second day of the test match.


The star left-handed batsman from Punjab, Nehal debuted his international innings in style with a six in his fourth ball, after defending the first three balls to settle down on the first day on Wednesday. On Tuesday, he had displayed some good fielding skills in Colombo, stopped numerous boundaries on the leg side of the field. Currently, Ayush and Nehal have scored 107 and 81 by the end of the second day.

With Nehal’s consecutive successive performances, his family members residing in Sarabha Nagar are on cloud nine, waiting for his first century in his debut match. Nehal’s father Kamal said: “Nehal was fully charged up since morning when he came in to bat, as he played every shot with perfection, and contributed an important score to the Indian team. I talked to Nehal on Tuesday night. He was happy with his fielding performances yesterday (Tuesday), and waiting to showcase his batting skills, which he finally did today (Wednesday). He gave all of us a surprise by opening his international account with a six, scoring 81 not out in just 117 balls.”

Nehal’s grandfather MR Wadhera said: “For the past two days, I have been watching the match continuously without taking a single-minute break, as my life-long dream to watch my son playing for Team India has come true. Our family is waiting for moments when Nehal will achieve his first international century. We all are praying that he creates history by scoring the maximum number of runs in his debut match.”

Nehal’s coach Charanjit Singh Bhangu said: “I am happy to watch Nehal’s overall innings, but the most attractive part of his innings was that he opened his international account with a six. We all hope Nehal makes the nation proud on foreign soil in his future matches as well, by serving the senior Indian team as well.”

FATHER ALL PRAISE

“Nehal was fully charged up since morning when he came in to bat, as he played every shot with perfection, and contributed an important score to the Indian team.” — Nehal’s father Kamal Wadehra


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