Ajinkya Rahane deserves a chance: Kukreja

MUMBAI: It seems everyone is shocked about his decision to hang up his boots at just 26 except Sahil Kukreja himself.
"I wanted to move on. I was bored of playing in the same circuit - Mumbai and then West Zone - again and again. At 26, I knew I didn't have a good chance of playing for India. I have a flourishing family business which is handled by my brothers and I wanted to join that.However, you can't join a business straightaway. So, I decided to pursue a course of Masters in Entrepreneurship from the Middlesex University in London," Kukreja told TOI on Wednesday.
Having played cricket all his life, it will be difficult for Kukreja to get back to studies, who hasn't touched books ever since he finished B.Com from HR College. It becomes apparent when you quiz him about his favourite subject. "Batting," he says instantly!
His five seasons with Mumbai, West Zone, India U-19, India A and Kings XI Punjab have been eventful. The Mumbai opener scored 3027 runs in 52 first-class games at an average of 38.80 with seven hundreds. But what is most memorable in all these years? "The 2007 season was the best for me," replies Kukreja.
"I scored a hundred in the Irani Trophy and the Mohammad Nissar Trophy. I hit 199 against Delhi at the Wankhede against Delhi in an attack that was led by Ishant Sharma. The 2006-07 Ranji season, where we came back from the brink to win the championship, will also remain close to my heart. It truly has been a special journey," he says. So, how does he intend to stay in touch with cricket? "If I feel there's a talented kid who needs sponsorship to make it big, I will do the needful, quietly," he says.
Pondering on what has changed in Mumbai cricket over the years, Kukreja said: "Mumbai cricket still rules. Otherwise, we won't have won Ranji title thrice in last five years. It's just that other teams are catching up, which is good for Indian cricket."
There is something, though that bothers him a bit. "I feel Ajinkya Rahane deserves a chance to play for India. The youngster has scored 17 hundreds in the last four years. Tell me which other batsman in India has hit that many first-class tons in recent years? Even Dhawal Kulkarni has been completely sidelined... Wasim Jaffer should always stay in contention and Rohit (Sharma) along with Ajinkya deserve a Test call-up," he says. Walking into a future where clinching a business deal will be a high, Kukreja will be happy if a Mumbai player breaks into India XI.