043-A little determination can go a long way!

Like many students out there, I had no idea about my career or passion when I stepped into my college life. All I knew was studies!

It was in my first year, on one fateful day, I happened to watch a GPL match. It was a nail-biting match. And, I felt a ripple of excitement upon seeing the audience cheering up for a senior, shouting aloud his name. It was the moment I decided to join the college cricket team. I was bound and determined to hear the audience cheering up for me one day. Then I started practicing day in, day out and got into the team.

Being a left-hand spinner of our team, the balls I bowled took a good number of wickets in the initial matches. In my overall career, I've achieved hat-trick twice and 5-wicket haul twice. Also, I've won the title 'Fastest man of GCT' in athletics.

I was given the responsibility of captaincy in my final year, which raised a dispute among fellow team players. We lost the zonal match as we couldn't strike a balance of coordination among us. After the incident, I left the team for a while, the thing that I regret even now. Our college cricket team has a good reputation among the other colleges. Once, in an off-campus athletic match, one of my fellow players recognized me as the left-hand spinner of the GCT cricket team, and told me that they were practicing tactically to tackle my balls. At the moment I realized that I should play for GCT. Putting aside the conflicts, I rejoined the team.

I was praised for my performance in the last match by our Coimbatore TNPL player and Coimbatore district cricket secretary. I was also given offers to join a few reputed clubs. Yes, I had the dream of achieving big in cricket. But, I'm from a middle-class family and I've some responsibilities to carry out. So, it becomes my need to get settled with a decent job and a good salary. Looking back on my college days, I could say one thing-In life, we can't wait for certain things to happen on their own, we should make them happen!