Samson and Bains: From Delhi with love!

Over the last week and a half, two names surfaced thanks to their great performances.

Ankush Bains, the India U-19 wicketkeeper, scored 222 runs in five games at over 44 and played a key role in helping India lift the quadrangular trophy in Vizag just a week back. Among the ’keepers, he was the second best.

Around the time he was performing almost without anyone noticing him, his India U-19 teammate Sanju Samson was creating his own niche in the Rajasthan Royals’ line-up. He hit three fifties in six games and his half-century off 24 balls in the final of the Champions League almost spoiled the farewell Mumbai Indians had planned for Sachin Tendulkar.

These two guys began their cricket at Ramjas Sports Academy in West Delhi’s Patel Nagar area. Their first brush with state cricket, however, was something they’d like to forget or maybe, remember for other reasons. The duo was rejected from the Delhi U-13 team that was being selected for the Dhruv Pandove Trophy --- an event comprising two-day games involving the North Zone teams.

“This was about four or five years back and they were two of the most talented kids in my academy,” says coach Shravan Kumar, who has also coached Ishant Sharma.

The faction of the DDCA sports committee that Shravan backed wasn’t in power and Ankush’s father Kartar Singh blames this fact. “We knew it was going to be tough because of that,” he told Delhi Cricket.

So Shravan told the duo’s parents to look at other states. Samson’s dad is from Kerala, who worked as a constable in Delhi and once he managed to get a petrol pump back home, he shifted back , hoping the move will aid his son’s development.

Ankush was related to Himachal Pradesh and moved to the state.

“It eventually proved to be a smart move,” says Shravan.

Incidentally, the current India U-19 team doesn’t have anyone from Delhi. Maybe, now, Delhi may own some bit of them.

By the way, this isn’t unusual. Players rejected by Delhi going on to making it big in other states. Mayank Siddana is doing a great job for Punjab and even North Zone in Duleep Trophy while Amit Mishra’s move to Haryana helped him push him to India colours.