Cricket comes first for this Yadav scion

Patna: This Yadav scion from Bihar is not impressed at all by the successful electoral debut of RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s sons – Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav. A career cricketer in the making, Sarthak Ranjan is the son of Jan Adhikar Party leader and expelled RJD MP from Madhepura Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and Supaul MP Ranjeet Ranjan. Unlike Lalu’s sons, Sarthak is probably the most talented cricketer among the Yadav kids, despite missing the cap of India under-19 team for the World Cup in Bangladesh next year.
Incidentally, Bihar boy Ishan Kishan will lead India in the tournament. Sarthak was in the Pune camp for selection of the national squad announced recently.
“I have no comparison with Tejashwi. He is the son of Laluji!” Sarthak told TOI from Delhi on Sunday in response to whether the political success of Tejashwi inspired him any moment to step into his father Pappu’s shoes. “My parents inspire me more than anyone else in the world. My father wants to see me a successful cricketer. My mother played tennis up to ATP first round level in her youth. My younger sister is in Delhi under-14 basketball camp for the nationals. Politics is hardly discussed at our home,” said the aggressive opener and a BA student at Kirori Mal College, Delhi University.
Contrary to Lalu’s sons, who once tried their hands in cricket with the youngest Tejashwi, now deputy chief minister of Bihar, warming the Delhi IPL benches quite often despite his failure to play any worthy innings for Delhi Ranji Trophy team he represented, Sarthak is the highest scorer for Delhi under-19 team this season. He was selected for the Pune camp on the basis of his promising performance in the four zonal games in which he had scored 265 runs.
Tej Pratap had also led Bihar cricket team in the school games despite losing his wickets twice in three balls during a selection trial at Moinul Haq Stadium, Patna, for that tournament.
“Politics never crossed my mindscape. I know my hard work will pay dividends in cricket one day. I have too much time and cricket left to excel,” insisted Sarthak, for whom Sachin Tendulkar is still the best opener in the world.