It will be a homecoming for CSK’s newbie Ayush Mharte when the franchise visits Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday to take on Mumbai Indians in the Indian El Clasico.
In the video going viral on social media, Mhatre and his grandfather is being interviewed by Vengsarkar Cricket Academy. In the video, he introduces himself as a six-year-old from Virar who wants to be a batsman.
His grandfather Laxmikant Naik, in the interview, said: “We saw his talent with the bat. We thought whether he becomes something big in the sport or not is a matter of destiny. But it is our duty to push him. We sent him to Vengsarkar Cricket Academy because who hasn’t heard his name? He was a legend before Sachin Tendulkar became one. So we thought we should send him to work under someone of that stature. Ayush has the talent to grow rapidly if he learns from the best.”
Mhatre is still to make his IPL debut. He has represented Mumbai in nine-first class matches, hitting two centuries and a half-century. In his List A career, he has the highest score of 181 against Nagaland and 48 against Saurashtra during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
His debut as an opener came for the Mumbai Ranji team last year in the Irani Trophy against the Rest of India team.
“I started to play when I was 6 but my real cricket started when I was 10,” Mhatre had told The Indian Express last year. “I got admission in Don Bosco High School in Matunga and it was my grandfather Laxmikant Naik (Nana) who took the responsibility to take me there every day. So in the morning, I used to go for practice in Matunga, attend school, and then go to Churchgate to attend another practice. My family used to tell my grandfather not to ruin my sleep but now, they too feel that my sacrifice is paying off.”