Mysuru: Due to lack of performance in the U-16 inter-district matches, Pavan Bharadwaj couldn’t make it to U-16 summer camp. But he didn’t lose hope as he still had the opportunity to make it to the U-16 Academy and U-16 Mysore zone if he performed well in the KSCA Mysore zone U-16 league matches conducted for affiliated clubs. Though he didn’t get much in the first two matches, in the third match against Sree Ganesha Kreeda Mandali (SGKM) he came out with a bang by scoring a record-breaking triple century (309). With this triple century and consistency, Pavan has got bright chances to be part of U-16 Academy and U-16 Mysore zone team.
Skipper and opening right-handed batsman P Pavan Bharadwaj representing Saraswathipuram Sports Club in the KSCA Mysore zone U-16 cricket league for clubs, made record innings of 310 runs in a 50-over match against Sree Ganesha Kreeda Mandali (SGKM). Pavan, who took up cricket when he was studying in the fourth standard, is a great fan of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and wants to represent the country. He is not only a promising batsman but equally handy leg-spinner. This is the first triple century in U-16 league matches.
Mysuru has produced many outstanding cricketers including former Indian speedster Javagal Srinath, Aditya Sagar who represented India in U-15, K B Pavan, Dhananjaya, J Suchith, Vijaya Prakash, M S Ravindra who also represented Karnataka. The 16-year-old Pavan who has not represented state yet has got all the potential and talent to not only represent state but also higher levels of cricket. To achieve this, he needs to be more consistent. He displayed outstanding batting skills and patience during his knock of 310 against SGKM in the U-16 Mysore Zone league matches played at Maharaja Cricket Ground. During his third league match, Pavan surprised everyone by creating a record of sorts in Mysuru by scoring 310 runs in just 140 balls which included seven sixes and 39 boundaries. This was also his first century in his cricketing career. Riding on Pavan’s triple century, Saraswathipuram Club scored 466, losing just three wickets.
After lack of performance in the inter-district U-16 matches, Pavan was left out in the U-16 Mysore zone camp. But the senior cricketers and even selectors had mentioned that if he or anybody despite not doing well in the U-16 league matches, could still make it the camp and also U-16 Mysore zone team. Keeping this in mind, a determined Pavan took up league matches seriously. In the first two matches, he didn’t get much opportunity to score. In the first match, the opponent got all out for 46 and Pavan scored an unbeaten 20 runs while in the second match, when his team bundled out for 44, he managed to score 22 runs. In the third match against SGKM, batting first, Pavan who wanted to prove himself to the selectors, surprised everyone by scoring a thrilling triple century. With this century, his dream of getting into U-16 camp and Mysuru zone has brightened.
Speaking to Newskarnataka Pavan said, “I was a bit disappointed for not scoring in the district level matches and not being part of U-16 camp. But senior cricketers including the selectors had mentioned that those who score consistently in the U-16 league matches can still get into the camp and also team. So I concentrated more on my batting and am happy that I managed to score 310 runs, which is also my first century. I just want to be more consistent and try to impress the selectors and get into the camp. To start with, I just decided to stay at the wicket and after completing 50, I decided to convert it into 100 and later 150, 200 and 250 and 300.” He is being trained by S Dhananjaya and a proud son of Prashanth Bharadwaj and Ranjini Prashanth.
