Cricket in the Eyes of other Sports Stars

Tennis legend Roger Federer was seen in same frame with Sachin Tendulakar, whom he admired as a sportsperson.

Twitter handle erupted as Thomas Muller, the German and Bayern Munich striker lent his support for Virat Kohli ahead of a cricket world cup match in 2019. Remember, Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt was in fact, an aspiring cricketer. Then Dwight York a Trinidadian, who played for Manchester United, not only revered Brian Lara but was his close buddy. History reveals sports persons from the other spectrum were also fond of cricket.

This triggered the idea - how about bringing a different flavour in Freewheeling Chinmoy by exploring a completely whole new perspective. Therefore, comes the game of cricket, looked through the eyes of two international women table tennis players and a national swimming champion.

Ayhika Mukherjee is a 22 years old paddler ranked number two in India. Her epoch making victory in the Commonwealth singles Championship was a first from an Indian women TT player. She is a member of the powerful Indian TT team that is ranked very high and travels across many continents. An admirer of Wriddhiman Saha’s superman like acrobatics behind the stumps Ayhika herself is a fitness freak. She follows the instagram videos of Ben Stokes and Virat Kohli..

Sristi Basu, a breast stroke specialist clinched gold in India’s talent search programme called Khelo India. At 19 Srishti had been on the rampage at the age group categories and a dazzling performer for the state of Bengal. Emerging from a sport where a Michael Phelps clinches a victory at a fraction of a second’s margin, the T-20 format creates an adrenaline rush in her. Enter Virat Kohli in the crease in the IPL, and Srishti is nothing but captivated. Much like her hero, Srishti does Olympic lifts with elan. She has to master clean and jerk since like cricket her sport demands explosive power to overcome water resistance.

And of course, Priyadarshini Das, the ebullient stocky paddler who broke into national circuit by climbing to India number one at the youth level. She then had a great foray in the south East Asian championship and clinched the championship. An energy packed dynamite she has a surprising choice in her choice as the fittest cricketer. May be Adam Zampa’s energy matches her. Priyo, as she is fondly called has played in Ultimate TT league which is Table Tennis’ answer to IPL. In her early twenties Priyo has her minds set to conquer higher peaks.

It was a fascinating time listening to youngsters from other sport and on behalf of Cricketworld I convey our best wishes to them.

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