A journey from despair to Cloud Nine

When 13 year-olds, Mohammad Shahbaz Tumbi and B Manoj Kumar stepped onto the crease yesterday, they had no idea they would break the Sachin-Kambli record.

When 13 year-olds, Mohammad Shahbaz Tumbi and B Manoj Kumar stepped onto the crease yesterday, they had no idea they would break the Sachin-Kambli record. They were just trying to outperform a double-century that another local schoolboy had reached. But Shahbaz did know that a month of disappointments before this had made him almost quit the game in frustration.

The all-rounder, who normally bats two-down, had been passed up for a place in the district team. 8220;I was not selected for the team despite scoring 175, and taking three wickets,8221; says Shahbaz. A few weeks before, his younger brother, Shahdab 12 was selected for the AP state team for the Schools Nationals. His father, Imtiaz Tumbi, says, 8220;When his younger brother was chosen over him, as they needed a wicket-keeper, Shahbaz was very disappointed. In fact he has been quite depressed for the past one month or so.8221;

8220;In fact, I felt like I should give up cricket. I was very upset for not getting selected in the teams. But now, we have scored this record breaking partnership,8221; says Shahbaz.

Both joined the St Peter8217;s High School, in Hyderabad8217;s suburbs, just to play cricket. Their complete education has been sponsored by the school. 8220;Almost half the team has joined the team just for the cricket here,8221; says Coach Harish Kumar. Shahbaz8217;s younger brother is one such student. In fact, Shahdab is the regular opener for the team, and is described by his coach as 8220;a dashing, daring batsman8221;.

Manoj, 320 not out is usually the opener for the team. 8220;When we went in to bat, we both wanted to score a double century, as someone in St Andrews had done it.8221; They duo decided to play carefully, and just stick out the whole 40 overs. 8220;By 15 overs, we had reached both our centuries.8221; After that the boys let loose. 8220;Then, we started playing faster, and by 25 overs, we both had double centuries.8221; Shahbaz adds, 8220;then, we knew that we were not going anywhere, and continued hitting.8221;

Most of today they spent shuttling between studios of various television channels. By afternoon, they8217;ve got their answers down to a pat, and Shahbaz, on live television, says, 8220;Main aage bhi runs ki bhauchar karoonga.8221;8217; Sitting outside the studio, his classmates laugh at his use of the 8220;bhauchar8221;.8217;

The two are different otherwise. Shahbaz is brash and outspoken, while Manoj is more guarded. When asked whether St Phillip, the team they butchered, is a strong one, Manoj says: 8220;Yes. They are not a weak team. They are not the strongest, but not weak.8221; Shahbaz, though, laughs: 8220;No team is strong in front of us!8221;

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Both of them are humble about being compared to Tendulkar, who they grew up worshipping. 8220;We know we have a lot to do before we can get there. Its great, but scary.8221;

Imtiaz though, is afraid that this record will have ruined it for the boys. 8220;Now my son will have all eyes on him. If he doesn8217;t perform in the next game, his career is over. And now he won8217;t study as well.8221; Till now, both boys have been good students.