Amitoze checks in

Amitoze has been signed up by Mumbai Indians and no prizes for guessing who clinched the deal for him. His skipper in Punjab,the India and MI offie Harbhajan Singh was so impressed with Amitoze that he put in strong word and got MI to lap him up. Amitoze scored more than 400 runs in Ranji Trophy but it was his match winning 76 against Haryana in the Vijay Hazare trophy that did it for him.

Looking forward to the opportunity,a beaming Amitoze told Sportsline,“Getting a chance to play alongside and share the dressing room with none other than Tendulkar is in itself a big high for a cricketer like me. When Bhaji paaji asked me about it for the first time,I was on cloud nine. Like other aspiring cricketers,Tendulkar has been an icon for me. Bhajji paaji and Vikram Rathore (Punjab coach) helped me discover my cricket abilities in tough matches last season.”Amitoze who mostly batted in the lower middle-order for Punjab managed to hit his first first-class ton against Ranji champions Rajasthan in the league stage.

Amitoze was born in Delhi in a business class family and went on to do his schooling from Yadavindra Public School,Patiala. His father Mahinder Pal Singh,who could not take up his favourite sport cricket seriously due to professional tasks,wanted to his son to be a cricketer. He even nicknamed Amitoze ‘Dennis’ after his all time favourite cricketer Dennis Amiss of England.

In his initial years,Amitoze learned cricket’s early lessons at Yamuna Sports Complex,Delhi,under Dronacharya awardee coach Gurcharan Singh,before moving to Patiala.

“I worked hard to get a look into the Punjab Ranji team. The fact my father could not pursue cricket,made me reach out to my goal with more vigour. I am thrilled to have landed a contract with Mumbai Indians. I may get few chances or may not even get a single one,but I know I will be enriched with top players around me. I will aim to encash the chances and make most of it,” added Amitoze who plays for LIC Cricket Club.

Praising Amitoze,the secretary of LIC Cricket Club,Deepinder Chabra,said,“While playing for my club Amitoze has played superb innings and wrecked quality bowling attacks with his strokes. He is the talent to watch out for in the near future.”

Amitoze makes his way into the MI team in place of Sarul Kanwar who has been dumped by the franchise.

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