At a time when state and Indian cricket is waiting for the next talented one drop batsman to arrive, here is a Herons Cricket Club batsman staking some claims with his brilliant performances on the local circuit.
Given the right breaks, Vinodh Suresh has the right technique and temperament to make it big. It is only a matter of time that he will be knocking the doors of the state and national selection committee to give him a serious look and thought.
Not for nothing is he the highest scorer in the local first division league cricket. Turning out for Herons for more than 10 years on the trot, Vinodh has compiled an incredible total of 952 runs with five brilliant centuries and four knocks of fifty and over.
Vinodh has already turned out for the state in various group teams from the under-14 to the under-22 levels and is keen to make his presence felt in the state A team and then of course the state team itself. He is keenly awaiting the selectors’ nod for the A-team, the selections for which are due any time now. The right-handed Vinodh, 24, took to the game as a 10-year-old kid.
“Once I went with my brother Sunil to watch him play at a camp. From then on, I became interested and joined Herons with Muralidhara sir as the coach. I have been with them since then and he has helped me to improve my game in various aspects,” said Vinodh.
“In the state age group teams, I have come under various coaches but Rajesh Kamat sir has impressed me the most. I have improved my batting a lot and there is scope for more improvements for sure,” said Vinodh, who is strong on the onside.
“I have to strengthen my offside shots and add more strokes to my batting on that side of the wicket. Once my league and other tournaments are over, I will concentrate on that and work on it,” confided Vinodh, who is also keen on listening to music and reading books.
Vinodh also turned out for KSCA teams in the inter-zonal tournament and also the Shafi Darashah invitation tournament.
“It gave me the opportunity to test my batting against some quality bowling. Though I failed to get big scores, I learnt a lot from the experience,” added Vinodh.
A commerce graduate from the Jain College, Vinodh also did his post graduation in Business Administration from the same college. A good example of excellence in sports and academics, Vinodh adores Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid among batsmen and Australian Shane Warne among bowlers.
Any particular reason? “Well, I somehow like their attitude and approach to the game,” said the modest Vinodh.
Surely, Vinodh has done enough to fulfil the promise in the local tournaments and is all set to shine on the bigger stages as he advances.
“Yes, of course, I want to get into the state team and then the Indian team. But I am not looking that far. My immediate aim is to get into the state ‘A’ team and then I will think of building myself up for higher levels of the game,” said Vinodh who has his feet firmly on the ground. And ready for take off. The ‘push-back’ has indeed begun.