He bleeds blue. Cricket is his first love. For him it’s cricket or nothing. Dreaming to be one of the men in blue one day, this youngster from Goa indicates a promising future in a sport he is passionate about
Sumiran Amonkar has been on the field sincehe was 12. Today, at 21 years of age, he has mastered the sport and is heading inthe direction of the Ranji Trophy. “I will make it to the Indian team,” saysSumiran confidently, when questioned about his goal in life.
“I come from a family of sports lovers,”admits Sumiran, whose father Praneet Amonkar played for the SalgaoncarProfessional Cricket Club till he was 30. Praneet represented Goa at a senior nationalhockey level several times, and was a hockey coach. Sumiran’s uncle, PrasadAmonkar played 22 matches in the Ranji Trophy before he had to call it a day,having been the victim of a road accident.
“Cricket runs in the DNA of our family,”says Sumiran, whose younger brother Shivam Amonkar is selected for the finalcamp of GCA (Goa Cricket Association) probables U-16. Shivam is an openingbatsman and leg-spinner and is an all-round player who has represented Goa atChandigarh in the U-16match organised by the Directorate of Sports and CulturalAffairs.
After beginning his day at 5 am withyoga, Sumiran follows a strict disciplinary routine. “I go to the DavorlimHanuman Mandir for yoga under the reputed yoga guru Aravind Kulkarni from 5:30am to 7 am. I then work out at the gym in the MCC from 7:30 am 9:30 am. After Imove past that, I devote a few hours to my studies, as I am currently appearingfor my bachelor’s degree in commerce through IGNOU. I then practice from 3:30 pmtill late in the evening at Fatorda with coach Sandip Naik,” shares Sumiran whohad trained under coach Vinod Dhamaskar during his initial days in the cricketingworld.
“I began playing cricket during the twomonth long summer camps,” says Sumiran who played matches in-between academicyears, finding a balance between studies and sports.
Diet, Yoga, Exercise and Practice arehis mantra. “Team spirit is what one learns through experience, and I realisedwhat state level competition is, where there is wide scope to learn from eachbatsman,” he says.
Stressing the need to allow the freedomof choosing one’s own career, the Amonkar family are in favour of cricket. “Myparents are my biggest fans,” smiles Sumiran as he picks up his favourite batand tosses a ball at younger brother Shivam asking him to bowl in the nets onhis terrace.
