Each year, a promising cricketer from the state makes his way into the India U-19 squad. This time, a speedster from the Kheralu district has caught the eyes of Indian cricket coach Greg Chappell and skipper Rahul Dravid.

Ishwar Choudhury’s (18) rise in the game, could well be termed a fairytale. Sent to Gandhinagar by his father—a debt-ridden farmer—to nurse his flailing academic when he was 12, this tall strapping lad’s cricket instincts drew him closer to the game at the Sports Authority of India.

A year into the game at the local level, the Gandhinagar District Cricket Association took up his grooming. At 14 he made his debut for the Gujarat U-19 team, where he scalped eight wickets against Maharashtra. Thereafter, it’s been the fast lane for Choudhury.

“The big boost for my career was when I started training at the MRF Pace Foundation, three years ago. I made a few corrections in my bowling technique and I now am more comfortable with my body language,” says the shy lad.

MRF pace foundation coach TA Sekar is more than impressed with Choudhury. “I thought he should have been picked for the India A tour of Australia. His 11-wicket haul in the Zonal Cricket Academy final was of top-draw. He has got all the essential ingredients of a good fast bowler,” says Sekar.

Choudhury still cherishes his meeting with Indian cricket coach, Greg Chappell. “I had a shot at all the Indian batsmen at the training camp at Chennai. After the session, both Chappell and Dravid encouraged me and I was really happy that they had a few words with me.”

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