CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu medium pacer Sunil Sam has obtained no-objection certificate from the state to pursue his career in his native Kerala. Though he hasn’t received an offer from Kerala Cricket Association, the decision was taken considering his entire family is now settled in Kochi.
Sunil, 28, approached the TNCA for NOC last week and got it on Thursday. “My family is in Kochi and I thought it would be nice to go back and play for my native state. Moving out was an emotional decision. It was here that I made a name for myself and Chennai has given me a lot. But last year I couldn’t find a place in the side and youngsters like M Mohammed and Aswin Crist have come up. I thought it’s time to move,” Sunil told Express on Monday.
Sunil started competitive cricket only at the age of 21. And the tall bowler was fast-tracked into the state side after just one year in TNCA first division. “At 22, I got a Ranji cap. It was big because till college I played only tennis ball cricket. But right people saw me, I came to Chennai (from Coimbatore) and life changed in the blink of an eye.”
A standout performer for Globetrotters, owned by MRF, Sunil has been a regular at camps conducted by Dennis Lillee and Glenn McGrath. Though his Ranji career was cut short by a severe injury in 2013, he continued to represent TN in limited-over formats.
“Lilllee sir gave me belief I can play first-class cricket. Senthilnathan sir (MRF head coach) also supported a lot. It was never an easy decision to leave the state that gave me everything. But I need to spend time with family.”
In Kochi, he will turn out for Swanton Cricket Club in the Kerala Cricket Association league. Though finding a spot in the state side which already has Basil Thampy, Sandeep Warrier will be tough, Sunil is ready for the challenge.
“I have to go through these tournaments and make myself eligible to represent the state side. It’s tough, but I’ve always been a positive guy. I never thought I would play for TN only a year into playing league cricket. So I will give my everything to play top level cricket again,” he signed off.