Nashik youth pads up for IPL 5

NASHIK: Abhishek Raut, the 26-year-old Nashik lad, will sport the Rajasthan Royals’ navy blue jersey yet again as he comes out to play in the 5th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket tournament starting on April 4.
This will be Raut’s fourth consecutive IPL appearance with the Royals. “My role is as an all-rounder in the team,” said Abhishek who is a middle-order batsman and a leggie.But he is more famous for his outstanding fielding irrespective of whether its snapping up a blinder as a close-in fielder or displaying a strong throwing arm , as a man out in the deep.
A former Maharashtra and Mumbai Ranji player, Raut represented the former in the 2005-06 season with moderate success. He then shifted base to Mumbai where he played for two seasons in ODIs and T20s under the captaincy of Wasim Jaffer. Those were distinctive performances as well. But it was his attacking batsmanship and robust fielding as a DY Patil team member in T20 matches that brought in the attention from the Rajasthan Royals who short-listed him immediately in 2009. Raut has not looked back since and remains a key player for the team.
Former RR captain and mentor Shane Warne lauded the Nashikite’s contribution to the team. “He is a very good addition. A smart fielder and a more than useful batsman, most importantly he has a good cricket brain,” Warne said.
His position in the squad as a lower order batsman notwithstanding, Raut had played two match-winning innings for the Royals since his debut with the team. His knocks of 36 not-out versus the Deccan Chargers in 2009, and 30 not-out versus the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010, were key contributions in those games.
The Rajsthan Royals, under the astute leadership of Shane Warne, did win the inaugural version of the IPL but have not done well since.
When asked about this year’s target particularly in light of the team’s poor last three seasons, Abhishek believes the team has it in them to win this year. “We have fixed our focus on the semi-final berth at the very least. We have got the wherewithal to achieve that,” Raut responded.
A product of the Nashik Cricket Academy, he still makes it a point to be at the grounds for net practice, when visiting the city. As for the city, it sure will wait, watch and hope that in course of the 16 matches played in this year’s IPL, Raut will be instrumental in taking the Royals to the finals, and with that, to another prized victory on May 27, 2012. Stay tuned.