CAPTAIN – KISHAN ALAKKAL SANOJ
The freshers are always the team that attracts attention, always the knights of curiosity. Who could be their dark knight? There are a lot of black holes of enigma and plenty of questions to be answered. All thanks to Biyas Muhammad and Banoth Santhosh (of HS14), in my first year, they introduced us to the Prem Ranjan Memorial Cricket Tournament, its spirit, its organisation, its history. They were the defending champions that year and had already tasted victory by becoming the champions in their very first year. Lots of stories about HS14’s first year adventures were igniting. We heard of an Aiswarya Aanand who almost got into the state cricket team, of the same HS14 becoming the runners up of a freshie cricket tournament, of a long haired guy called Monish who only shows up on match days and hits the ball with sheer power across the parks, so on and so forth. With the help of HS14, we owned the Sangam ground with daily practices. Strategically, we organised our own practices without them by bunking the life-skill class. It might be unlucky for HS19 to be the first team to play Prem Ranjan after HS14 has graduated, because the kind of mood and atmosphere they created was so high with an aura always around Prem Ranjan!
THE TEAM
We know little of their game or their players. They are a very active team when it comes to Frisbee as far as my knowledge goes. We know that they have Akhil, a fiery fast bowler and they have Ardra who has displayed her brilliant ability to bowl under pressure just two weeks back . Ardra is one of the three girls in the campus who goes for NSO cricket practice at the institute cricket ground. She has practiced with the department cricket team and has already made her mark in this year’s inter department league for her department by giving just eight runs in the penultimate over of the match when 32 was required of 12 balls helping to put the pressure back on the opponent team. Akhil is probably the quickest in the department at the moment and his quick arm action gives him extra pace even with a slow run up. If he can run in hard and bowl the right line and length, he is so very lethal with his height being an added advantage. Kishan, Saket, Joseph and Bithul might be few others that we know of who might make their account in the 2020 edition of the Prem Ranjan. It’s a challenge that they have to take up with both hands to make their maiden campaign memorable.
PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR – AKHIL AND ARDRA
Akhil and Ardra are equally important in the squad. Akhil could just beat the batsman down with his pace and might claim a few breakthroughs in the first few overs. So is Ardra, who can confuse the batsman and get few wickets. Then can probably anchor the bowling attack and get a few others around them.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We have no clue of what HS19’s batting is like. That is a grey area which they might have to clear. The fact that this edition of the tournament has 3 group stage matches might be an advantage, as they have more time and matches to adapt in case they struggle initially. But they are facing stiff competition in the group stage as they are facing HS17, HS16 and the PhDs, out of which HS17 and PhDs were semi-finalists last year. Doing good homework as a team and will help them strategise throughout their campaign. Let them form a good team, do some practice and ultimately enjoy their time out there and play some good cricket. I wish they recreate the glory that HS14 has created 5 years back by winning the title on their maiden campaign.
Article by Libin John
Article 19 