Chhattisgarh has made a rapid rise in domestic circuit. From being a mere newcomer in 2016 to becoming a strong competitor across formats, the team and state association – Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) – have come a long way. It has also become a hub of talented players who are showcasing their skills in big tournaments like the Indian Premier Leagues (IPL), the Irani Trophy and the ‘A’ tours.
The various tales of success have left an influence in nearly every 33 districts of the state, tempting the youngsters to look beyond gully and tennis-ball cricket and take up the sport professionally. One such passionate bloke is Raigarh’s fast bowler Ashish Chouhan who’s on the verge of making his First-class debut in the forthcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy, starting January 5 at different venues across the country.
Raigarh is a city known for its cultural facets, steel and power production but not cricket. Expectedly, it was a challenge for Chouhan’s cricket dreams to take wings in the city. So after completing his class XII from the city’s renowned OP Jindal School, he decided to shift base to Raipur, the state capital.
In an exclusive interview with News18 CricketNext, Chouhan explained why switching cities was essential to pursue his dream of playing the game professionally.
“Raigarh was not doing well in local tournaments. And if a team doesn’t win games, your chances of getting selected for the next level are quite slim. So my coach pushed me to switch base. And obviously, Raipur is a much more competitive district to play for. It means that you have reached a certain level,” Chouhan told CricketNext.
Moving to Raipur, a comparatively bigger and much more developed city than Raigarh, presented different challenges and it demanded extra hard work from a young Chouhan.
At times, the pressure of breaking into the state team took over his mind which eventually reflected in his performance. However, in March 2020, Chouhan made it to the Chhattisgarh Under-25 team and then, there was no looking back.
“The first 2-3 years were extremely tough. I kept practicing but didn’t get selected. The pressure was obviously there. But eventually, things started falling into place. I kept following the process. I played with seniors and the environment in Raipur favoured my game,” Chouhan said.
“And then I appeared for trials where I picked up a decent number of wickets which eventually opened the way into the state team,” he added.
‘Couldn’t Have Made It Without Family Support’
In middle-class households, choosing cricket as a career option is a courageous move, especially when you are hailing from a city where it’s not prevalent either. Focusing on ‘padhai-likhai’ is the norm if one wishes to survive. However, Chouhan’s talent with the red ball prompted his parents to skip the traditional path and let their youngest of three kids chase his dreams.
They backed Chouhan’s decision to move to Raipur and were there to keep his confidence high when he was struggling to make the cut.
“Initially they also wanted me to focus on studies. But, you know, parents always want results. Once I started delivering that after coming to Raipur, they were backing me at will. In fact, when I was struggling to get into the state team, they supported me a lot. I couldn’t have made it without them. Parents ke bina aap bahut kuch hasil nahi kar sakte life mein (It’s hard to achieve much without your parents’ support),” Chouhan said.
‘My Class Teacher Played a Pivotal Role’
Imagine if the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli were asked by their school teachers to forget about the game and just focus on their studies. The history of Indian cricket would have been completely different. It’s the teachers who remain behind the curtains while continuing to be the guiding light.
Chouhan too had one in the form of his class teacher.
The 25-year-old is very thankful to his class teacher Mrs Rakhi Debnath, who allowed him extra time to practice even during school hours.
“The kid was so passionate about cricket. He was quite humble and disciplined. Aisa hota hai na ki aap jo kuch kar rahe hain but cricket is always there at the back of your mind. So, maybe that was the reason I gave him some extra periods to practice,” Mrs Debnath told CricketNext.
School Coach – The Real Talent-Spotter
A skilled player always needs someone who can spot his talent and nurture it while providing the right direction. Chouhan had Dharmendra Shrivas who identified the fast bowler in him who was capable of clocking in the 140 kphs consistently while bowling long spells.
Shrivas was never hesitant in pushing Chouhan to take his game forward and to a level where people could see his game and believe in him. The obedient student followed the instructions and is now nearing a First-class debut.
“He had the pace, athletic build and a great arm swing. He started with the tennis ball so I asked him to take the season ball. I asked him to go Raipur and play, and now he’s there,” Shrivas told CricketNext.
A post shared by ASHISH (@ashishchouhan78789)
The coach feels that Chouhan has all the elements in him to be a good fast bowler – sheer pace, good build and the arm-swing, adding that a lucrative IPL contract is not too far.
“He’s a champion. He consistently bowls above 140 and is a big-match player. I wish he plays for India but I can say that IPL to zaroor khelega wo (will definitely play IPL),” Shrivas said.
“Also, in the region he comes from, people there are mentally strong, have stamina and are headstrong. So, he has done well in the longer formats and will do even better as he can bowl longer spells,” Shrivas added.
‘Ranji Trophy, the Pinnacle of Domestic Cricket’
With a maiden First-class call-up, Ashish feels he has taken another step towards the bigger dream of playing for India because he’s very well aware of the fact that performing well in Ranji is the only way to prove his talent if he hopes to progress to the next level.
“When we start playing cricket, it’s not Team India that we instantly think about. The way to represent India goes through Ranji which is the pinnacle of our domestic cricket. You have to perform well there. So, it was a dream come true for me when I got the call-up,” Chouhan said.
Chhattisgarh are set to face big guns like Bengal, Andhra, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh in the group stage of the forthcoming season. As a rookie pacer, Chouhan feels that self-belief would be the key to success on debut if he gets the chance.
“The basic is to believe in what I’ve learned so far. Also, the backing from the seniors I’ve been getting is quite helpful. As far as the opponents are concerned, we have video analysts to help us. But I think if I keep backing my instincts, I will do good on my debut, whenever it happens,” he concluded.
Chouhan at senior-level cricket
The 25-year-old recently made his white-ball debut for Chhattisgarh. He played his first game for the state against Meghalaya in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023 and then got two games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023, against Manipur and Jharkhand. He has one List-A wicket to his credit while he’s yet to open the account in T20s.
What's your reaction?
Comments
0 comment