by Divvy Kant Upadhyay, Manipal
Daijiworld Media Network

Udupi, Sep 28: There is no dearth of cricket craziness in India – and the 20-20 segment of the game has opened only more avenues. While the Karnataka Premier League created excitement in the state cricket fraternity over the last two weeks – at the same time, a first-time effort from the KRS Cricket Academy based in Katpady in Coastal South Karnataka was creating waves of its own. With an aim to encourage youngsters into professional cricket by providing them a platform, the KRS academy conducted its own version of the 20-20 tournament for boys under the age of 12.

The league not only witnessed good participation from teams in Karnataka but also had teams from Bahrain and UAE. The Manipal University’s cricket grounds witnessed young lads studying in Grades 4- 7 battling it out for the top honours – which were finally bagged by CJ Mysore team with the KRS Academy team as runners-up. Padmanab Bhandarkar was declared Man of the Series.

It is interesting how the game of cricket, especially when promoted among school children is able to draw influential people from different walks of life. It was perhaps awe inspiring for the young kids to see a host of dignitaries gather to encourage them – the list of whos who at the Valedictory function in Manipal included – the Pro Chancellor of Manipal University – Dr HS Ballal, Superintendent of Udupi District Police Praveen M Pawaar, Athroscopy expert and KMC Manipal Dean Dr Sripathi Rao, Franchisee owner of the Mangalore United team at KPL who introduded himself as ‘the only politician’ at the function – Moideen Bawa, President of the Mangalore Zone of Karnataka Cricket Association Mr Amin, Former national selector and Ranji trophy player JK Mahindra, Syndicate Bank AGM Mr Kini, District Roatary President along with a host of other invitees and members of the KRS Cricket Academy of Katpady.

In times when serious discussions about cricket overshadowing other sports are being initiated, it does look interesting when people in the limelight get together to encourage sports and fitness among the children of far flung, generally forgotten townships like those in coastal Karnataka. It is left to be seen if other sports and games are able to attract young talent before ‘cricket’ and ‘sport’ become synonymous for the school going generation in the country.