Big break for KP

After news broke of him being included in India's U 23 squad,Mumbai Ranji opener Kaustubh Pawar couldn't stop himself from getting emotional.

After news broke of him being included in India’s U 23 squad,Mumbai Ranji opener Kaustubh Pawar couldn’t stop himself from getting emotional. He became nostalagic and recalled the days when his team-mates teased him as a ‘village boy’ because he travelled all the way from Thane and how tough it was to reach a stage from where he could leave a mark for himself. He is not a blistering batsman but somene who idiolises Rahul Dravid more than Virender Sehwag. He loves to play long innings and is among the few batsmen in the city,who like to leave the ball outside the off-stump line more than to play them.

Pawar is a perfect story of hardwork without a god-father behind him. It was his performances in junior cricket and local tournaments which helped him earn a place in the Mumbai Ranji squad. There too he became the boy,who loved to bat for long.

This is one of the best days of my life. Somewhere I had a hope that a day will come when I represent my country but never thought it will begin from under-23. I know my game is not flamboyant but you need someone who can anchor from one end and I think I can do that, Pawar said.

Despite being a technically correct boy Pawar has many a times proved people wrong on that he is only made for the longer format. He was the first batsman to score 100 in a MCA T20 tournament two years ago and it was his performance in Mahindra Shield which made Mumbai selectors promote the opener batsman.

However,Pawar feels that pressure-wise senior domestic cricket will always be more challenging than age-group cricket. Coming from the Mumbai Ranji side means Pawar has soaked in the environment where hardcore talk of cricket is discussed in the team meetings. The only difference will be the energy, Pawar adds,who has scored more 2500 runs past season. If I can give decent start to the team and score ball to ball than it won’t be any issue. Grabbing the opportunity will be the key after all it will be India game, he adds.

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