Four years ago,when his father decided to migrate to New Zealand,Jeet Raval was reluctant to leave Ahmedabad. Being Parthiv Patels opening partner in the Vidyanagar School team and later watching his senior by three years make it to the Indian team,Raval had seen from close quarters how dreams can come true. Though not fully convinced by his fathers argument that a cricketing career could take shape in New Zealand too,the 16-year-old came here with mixed feelings. Today,he laughs about his initial hesitation and says that his father was right. Raval,who is part of New Zealand Emerging Players team that is playing England A,seems all set to continue the tradition of Gujarat-born cricketers who have played for the Black Caps. Dipak Patel and Jeetan Patel have made it in the past,and its not too far fetched to think that Jeet could be the next. Like many success stories one hears from migrants overseas,this isnt just a tale about overcoming odds in an alien land,but one of a society that acknowledges excellence,with details such as colour of skin and place of birth paling into insignificance. Jeet speaks about his initial days in Auckland and his first brush with class mates with blond hair and teachers who spoke with an accent. In Ahmedabad,I studied in a Gujarati-medium school so I had no clue what was being said in class. I wasnt that bad a student I had secured 83 per cent marks in my Class X exams in Gujarat but here I was totally clueless, he says in an accent that makes him sound like an authentic New Zealander. One tries a bit of Gujarati with him but he soon switches to English,which seems to come naturally to him now. He worked hard to overcome the problem,but he says that cricket had a big role to play in making him one of the boys rather than the odd one out. I was serious about the sport and there was no way I would let anything come in my way, says the left-handed batsman and part-time leg-spinner,who plays for Suburb New Lynn Cricket Club in Auckland. Raval says that the local players weakness against spin that made him switch as a regular slow bowler. A few good seasons with the club took him to the main Auckland team and earlier this year he represented his state in a tour match against the West Indies. That was my most memorable day in New Zealand. I will always remember that. I scored only 35 but Ill never forget those runs, he says. After dreaming of wearing the India colours when in Ahmedabad,Raval wants to don the Black Cap one day. Ask him about his mentor and the answer is predictable. Dipak Patel was my coach at Auckland and he has helped me a lot, he says.
