Emerging out of dad’s shadow

With Delhi he has won the under-15 national championships, as well as the under-17 title, and has been waiting for an opportunity...

With Delhi he has won the under-15 national championships, as well as the under-17 title, and has been waiting for an opportunity to make a bigger impression. He was unlucky to miss out on the India under-19 tour to Sri Lanka, and though present during the historic victory in the Kuala Lumpur World Cup, he was never a part of the team as such.

Now Tejaswi Yadav has a chance to showcase his worth, and an occasion to be more than just Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son, when he joins Delhi Daredevils as one of their four under-22 stars in the Indian Premier League. “I am really very excited about the prospect of playing in the IPL. It will be live on television and many people will be watching, and this is a great opportunity for me to push my case into the main Ranji team for Delhi,” he told The Indian Express.

The hard-hitting middle-order bat and off-spinner admits that he was keeping his fingers crossed about the IPL. “I knew that they needed under-22 players and that I had done well. So I was hoping to get something.”

The 17-year old admits he will always be looked upon as Lalu’s son. “Initially, I found it very tough to cope with it. Every single match that I couldn’t score, it used to be news that Lalu’s son has not scored, and vice-versa. But now I am quite used to it,” he says. “My dad keeps asking me about my progress and how am I doing. But finally, it’s not him who will play for me or score runs for me, that only I have to do. That’s why I always try and keep away from getting trapped in that image,” he says.

Tejeswi has always made a conscious effort to play his cricket like any other budding cricketer, refusing to be escorted by security and hanging out with friends during matches. SAI coach MP Singh, who has trained him since his early years vouches for the fact that Tejaswi has always wanted to be treated like any other trainee.

“Despite doing really well, he’s not been given his due by the DDCA. But good talent cannot be hidden,” Singh said.