Rejected as a seamer, Akshay turned a spinner
| Date :13-Apr-2020 |
Vidarbha all-rounder Akshay Wakhare (left) with his family members.
By Anupam Soni :
MOST of the cricket fans surely know that a young Sachin Tendulkar was rejected by the National Cricket Academy selectors after he appeared for trials as a fast bowler. The determined youngster, however, picked up the willow and the rest is history. Vidarbha’s very own Akshay Wakhare has a similar story to tell. The lanky player was also rejected as a fast bowler during his first encounter with cricket but his quick and smart thinking changed his life for ever...he turned out to be a spinner par excellence. “Akshay was in class 8th then. A social science lecture was going on.
Akshay’s five-wkt burst helped India Red win Duleep Trophy.
He was least interested in that subject. At the same time, a cricket trial was being held to select school’s (CP and Berar, Ravinagar) cricket team for the Karnewar Inter-school Cricket Tournament. Akshay bunked the class to attend the same. “First time he registered himself as a fast bowler but the selector rejected him telling that he cannot become a faster bowler. As he did not want to attend the (boring) classes, he again joined the queue and this time enrolled himself as a spin bowler. Surprisingly he got selected as a spinner and became part of the school team. They performed well that season and even went on to win the title. His performance attracted attention of Vidarbha Cricket Association selectors and he became part of the Vidarbha squad.
It was very surprising for all of us including Akshay himself. The selection turned out to be the turning point in his life,” recollected Anand Wakhare, who has been looking after younger brother Akshay’s requirements since his childhood days, told ‘The Hitavada’. There was no looking back. “Akshay was member of the Under-14 Vidarbha team that won the Saamna Cup in Mumbai. I think that was the first major cricket tournament won by Vidarbha. Vidarbha defeated Thane in final in Mumbai. Akshay did well in the tournament and even in the final where he picked three wickets. Shiv Sena Supremo Late Balasaheb Thackeray presented the trophy in presence of the then Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi. “He has been performing well since then. It has been a continuos process.
In a couple of years when Vidarbha were playing Central Zone matches in Palakkad, Vidarbha did well in three consecutive matches riding on Akshay’s performance. He took some 18-19 wickets in those matches and was in good form. “Then came the Under-19 World Cup selection trials. But to his bad luck, Akshay was found two months older at the cut off date required for the tourney otherwise he would have made it to the Indian squad. But his performance for Vidarbha always remained good and he continued to do well in various age groups and then in the senior team,” said Anand about Akshay’s journey. Initially the family had their doubts but Akshay’s focus forced them to relent.
“To start with there were some apprehensions from the family. Our family had no history of producing any sportsperson. Parents were reluctant to let him continue with his first love. We, like any other middle class family, wanted him to complete his studies and fetch a good job. Our uncle Captain Madhusudan (Wakhare) also came in his support. He asked us to let him play and stay focused. “We all realised that he was performing consistently and fully supported him. In due course of time he completed his 12th and graduation. He is presently an employee with the AG Office,” said Anand about the early reactions. Vidarbha senior team’s moment of truth came when they lifted their maiden Ranji Trophy. “The 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season is till date the best memory for all of us. It was sensational...it was the best moment for entire Vidarbha.
Akshay ended that season being the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament. When we were young we used to see Ranji matches at the old VCA Civil Lines ground but never thought in our wildest dream that a member of our family will be playing and one day will be member of the team winning the coveted trophy,” Anand said with pride. Anand, however, rates Akshay’s five-wicket haul for India Red as his personal favourite moment. “Akshay took five wickets conceding just 13 runs helping India Red win the 2019-20 Duleep Trophy at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. To me that is his best personal show,” said Anand. While Akshay’s parents — father Anil, who retired as a Technical Assistant from MIDC while mother Anagha as an Accountant with the Animal Husbandry Department, are satisfied with his performance, they feel the performers should be rewarded well. “Vidarbha players must play for India. Every association feels that its players must get due recognition...and family members too feel the same. If the players are performing they must be playing at the top level. Their best reward will be berths in India team,” said the soft-spoken couple. Not only family members but those who have seen him from close quarters also feel Akshay should have played for India. “Narendra Hirwani sir has always been his mentor and he has improved much under him. Former India player Rajesh Chauhanji, who also came here as selector, felt that Akshay should play at top level. His Mumbai Indians team-mate Harbhajan Singh has time and again mentioned clearly that Akshay must be given a chance to play for India,” Anand signed off.