 |
| Mehul Dave |
Mehul Dineshkumar Dave, the most experienced Cricketer, right now in the SCCA. Mehul was born in Baroda, India on November 15, 1976. Mehul like most other youngsters growing up India, fell in love with the game and started making inroads at a very young age.
The traditional route for any young cricketer to make it big is to first start playing for the local clubs followed by getting selected in their local associations’ Under-16 or Under-19 side and move up gradually. Mehul was no exception and followed this route.
Mehul started playing cricket at the age of 10. He started practicing hard to impress the selectors for a place in the Under-16 Camp. When he was hardly 14 years of age, he got selected for the Under-16 Camp as an all-rounder and had the opportunity of being coached by the former Indian Captain Dattajirao Krishnarao Gaekwad, father of former Indian Opener Anshuman Gaekwad.
Impressed with Mehul’s abilities D.K. Gaekwad selected him to play for Baroda State Under-16 side when Mehul was only 14 years. He did not disappoint the Coach and went on to make his maiden hundred that season. Mehul continued to perform consistently till the Under-19 levels of cricket.
His skills were noticed and he was selected to attend the Indian national Camp in Bangalore. On completion of the Camp, he was handed his Baroda Ranji Cap and played his first game against Gujarat. He continued to play for Baroda for a year and a half.
With a broken heart (due to politics interrupting his cricketing career) and burning desire and passion for the game still alive, he started playing again. He started his cricketing career in the USA by appearing in North-West Region and then moved to the South West Region.
 |
| Hemant Buch, Masud Chick and Mehul Dave |
He started playing SCCA League first for the United Cricket Club and then moved to Vijayta Cricket Club. He is currently the captain of Vijayta Cricket Club and the South-West Region. He has been a prolific scorer in the SCCA League and the National Championships.
Though he has gone down in pace, his nagging line and length halts the opponents scoring rate. His understanding of the match situation is phenomenal and amply displays the same in all the games that he plays.
Talking to our Editor Mr. Rao, Mehul answered a few questions posed to him.
KC Rao: What motivated you to select cricket when other games, such as tennis, soccer, etc., were there?
Mehul: The main reason for me getting into cricket was my father who loved the game and when he first took me to watch a game, I fell in love with the game.
KC Rao: What was your expectation of cricket standards in USA prior to your move to USA? What did you find the standard of cricket actually was?
Mehul: I did not expect the level of cricket in USA as high as any Test playing nation because cricket is not a very popular game her. However lately the level is surely rising and I see a good future and level of competition arriving in US.
KC Rao: Which was your outstanding performance, both in bowling and batting in the local (SCCA) league? Where does the Play off championship win of SCCA Division I of 2010 stand in your cricketing career?
Mehul: My best performance in bowling was when I took 6 for 12 against International in 2008 and a match winning unbeaten 112 against Pasadena in the same year. Apart from that I have been the most economical bowler in SCCA for past four years which I think is considerably outstanding achievement as it has never been done by any bowler in SCCA. SCCA Division I playoff championship surely has a significance in career, might not be the most important but surely a memory which will never erase from my mind.
Mehul owes his success to his father who initiated him to play cricket and his family who encouraged him all the way.
Weekend Cricket management and the readers congratulate Mehul Dave on his achievement and wish him all the best in his future endeavours!
No comments:
Post a Comment