After spending a year with Gymkhana Club, Hokaito was signed up by Victoria Sporting Club, before eventually switching over to his present club. And all along, under former national selector Sambaran Banerjee, Hokaito has been specialising in his all-round skills, and making a name for himself over the last five years of training. Says Banerjee: “He’s a rare talent. I say this because not often do you see a player bowling left-arm pace and batting right-handed as a big-hitter, and then backing it all up with impressive fielding and fitness. Hokaito hails from the hills, which is why he is a remarkably tough guy out in the field.”

The wiry player said: “When I started playing cricket, there wasn’t anybody back home who played cricket. But today, things have changed in Nagaland.”