Immensely talented southpaw Balachander Anirudh promises much, but will he don the India colours?

The BCCI giving away the award for the ‘Best Under-19 Cricketer (2013-14)’ to Balachander Anirudh is just another reminder of the immense potential this young Hyderabadi has.

In fact, the gifted southpaw could well don India colours, going by Anirudh’s phenomenal record of 903 runs from seven matches in the All-India Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19), that included three centuries and three 50s.

A product of St. John’s Cricket Foundation, where the great V.V.S. Laxman also mastered the basics in his younger days, Anirudh is taking it one step at a time.

“First, I want to do well in the Ranji Trophy, if given the chance. Like anyone else, I too dream of playing for India one day,” says the B. Com student of SP College.

His parents – V. Balachander (a bank officer) and mother Girija – shifted to the city from Chennai when Anirudh was in Class III. After initial schooling at DAV Public School, he moved to St. Andrews School. John Manoj of St. John’s was his first coach and he never really looked back since.

“Earlier, I used to throw away my wicket playing rash strokes but thanks to Ashok Singh Sir (who also mentored VVS Laxman in his formative days) the focus was on concentration and fitness levels. I am glad the efforts paid off really well, because of which I could score a double century and two centuries in the Cooch Behar Trophy,” explains Anirudh.

This highly-rated young batting star admires Sri Lankan Kumara Sangakkara for he feels that his batting style is similar to the great cricketer.

“I have a long way to go. I would love to play at No. 3 and play a key role in the fortunes of whichever team I play,” signs off the young cricketer after another grinding session in the nets.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – November 23rd, 2014