Mahesh Pithia noticed his first cricket match in A Paan Go buying in Nagichana, a village an hour’s drive from the cricket backwater Junagadh. It was Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test on the Wankhede Stadium in 2013.
During this ‘public screening’ of the Test match within the village, Pithia seen that his bowling motion was much like that of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Pithia stated the similarity was a coincidence as he had by no means seen Ashwin bowl earlier than that day. At that point he was a village-level tennis-ball off-spinner. He caught to his pure motion and it helped him get his huge break virtually a decade later – bowling to one of many biggest batsmen of the period, Steve Smith.
The similarity had attracted the eye of the Australian Test staff, keen to duplicate a Test match in India, throughout warm-up forward of the four-Test sequence beginning on 9 February. Pithiya, from a farming household, flew to Bangalore on Wednesday. ,
“Steve Smith was the batsman I bowled to essentially the most within the final two days. When I began bowling to him throughout apply, the Australian batsmen realized that I used to be like Ashwin. Smith was very desirous to face me. Pithia, nonetheless in awe of the standard of his batsmen, says he ‘sacked’ Smith on just a few events.
The 21-year-old Pithia made his first-class debut for Baroda in a Ranji Trophy sport in opposition to Uttar Pradesh in December. He was not within the limelight or on the Australian staff’s radar, however a throw-down specialist at Baroda despatched a video of his bowling to Australia’s assistant coach Andre Borovec. “I was asked if I knew any good spinners and I forwarded Mahesh’s video. There is a similarity in his action with Ashwin, but he is also a very good spinner,” stated throw-down specialist Pritesh Joshi.
The 21-year-old Pithia made his first-class debut for Baroda in a Ranji Trophy sport in opposition to Uttar Pradesh in December. (Express photograph)
Sudden highlight, adopted by a write-up Cricbuzz Regarding the ‘Ashwin impersonator’, has given Pithia his first brush with fame. He says he has given half a dozen interviews, together with to the official broadcaster of the four-Test sequence. Ashwin’s duplicate was written on the official web site of Cricket Australia.
By Friday night, the second day of apply in Alur, Pithia did not get time to talk together with her mother and father Veeran, mom Maniben and brother Dinesh again dwelling.
Pithia stated he’s pinching himself after getting to remain within the Australian staff lodge, journey in his personal staff bus and bowl to the Test batsmen of the world’s primary aspect.
“Junagadh is not known for producing cricketers, so needless to say, avenues hardly exist for a youngster who wants to make it big. There is a lot of tennis ball cricket,” stated Pithia.
He follows within the footsteps of his tennis-cricket-crazy brother Dinesh. The boys used to play within the village however have been on the lookout for a possibility to improve their expertise. Pithia heard about two boys from a close-by village who had reached a cricket hostel in Porbandar. His brother inspired him to go for the trial – first to Junagadh after which to Porbandar.
Porbandar’s tenure lasted for about six months and Pithia felt that he was not making progress. “A coach named NK Sharma had come to the hostel on deputation. He suggested me to go to Baroda. Ok, I listened to her. I performed for Baroda’s under-19 staff and likewise represented them within the Ranji Trophy this 12 months.
The Australians have began calling him ‘Ashwin’ however they don’t seem to be the primary because the similarity in supply stride and lead-up was seen by different groups prior to now. Pithia stated that the carrom ball continues to be a piece in progress. “I’ve an arm ball and a backspin supply. I’m engaged on some adjustments.
By the time Pithia returns dwelling on Sunday, the Australian staff will pack their luggage and depart for Nagpur, the venue of the primary Test. “It was an surprising alternative to be requested to bowl in opposition to the Australian staff. I’ll profit from this however I do know that I’ve a protracted technique to go in my cricket profession.
Even after transferring to Baroda to play cricket, Pithiya helps his mother and father work within the farm when he’s at dwelling. “We grow peanuts and wheat. I still work on the farm. No one should lose touch with their roots.”
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
