Today we will be doing our first cricket interview at Broken Cricket Dreams!
We have with us here Avinash, who is fulfilling his own broken cricket dream in the United States.
Avinash grew up playing cricket in his hometown of Hyderabad at various levels up till the undergraduate level, where he pursued a degree in aeronautical engineering. He then moved to the United States of America for his master’s degree. Even though he is far away from his home in India, he is one of many who have continued their passion for cricket in the U.S. He has since represented Iowa State University and the DSM Vikings Cricket Club and competed in tournaments such as the American College Cricket League, Heartland Cricket League, and Iowa Premier League. He has been playing in the American club circuit for ten years now.
Let us get to know the person and his journey of playing cricket.
The Who– Avinash
Batting Style: Right Hand Batsman
Batting Position: Top-Order
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium-Fast, Right Arm Off-Spin
Fielding Position: Point, Long-Off/Long-On
Major Teams: Iowa State University (ISU) Cyclones, DSM Vikings Cricket Club, Young Guns
Nickname(s): Avi
Favorites
Favorite Sportsperson: Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli (Cricket), David Montgomery (NFL), Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney (soccer), Carlos Sainz Jr., Michael Schumacher (F1), Sania Mirza (Tennis)
Favorite Shot: “Straight Drive and Leg-Glance. I can play the leg-glance with my eyes closed.”
Favorite fielding play:“Love to pick the ball one-handed and throw.”
T20 Heartland Cricket Club (HCL) Champions: DSM Vikings (2019)
T30 Heartland Cricket Club (HCL) Runner-Up: DSM Vikings (2018)
Stats At A Glance
221 Matches, 2845 Runs, 64 Wickets
Avinash is enjoying a purple patch with the bat in the 2024 T30 season of the Heartland Cricket League. Currently, he has scored 197 runs at a wonderful average of 49.25 and a SR of 86.78 with 3 fifties. There are still five more games to go in the season!
In the last couple of years, he has had several player of the match performances and shouldered the responsibility as a captain for a couple of seasons.
Q1. What was your first memory of playing cricket?
“My cousin was a Division A player in the Hyderabad domestic circuit. Whenever we visited his house, there were cricket kits, bats, and pads all around their house. As a kid, I liked to wear the cricket kit and shadow playing cricket shots.
I have watched several of his matches, and it inspired me to pick up the sport.”
Q2. What were your favorite memories of watching cricket in your childhood?
“I just remember waking up at 5 AM for any cricket game in my childhood. There were several memorable games, but the 2003 India vs Pakistan game was one of the best.
“I was present when Tendulkar hit 175* at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium but unfortunately had to leave before the ending. Other than that, I have watched a couple of test matches there against New Zealand and Australia along with a few IPL games.
My favorite IPL memories was witnessing the pace of Brett Lee at the Somerset vs KKR 2011 CLT20 game and watching Rahul Dravid in the RR vs SRH game.”
The When – Early Days
Q4. When did you start playing cricket?
“I first started playing cricket for around 2nd or 3rd grade, but the real practice I had when I played everyday with two of my friends on the terrace of my house. It helped to develop my ground shots and playing in the V.
It was fun, there was a lot of banter, and whoever would win would be treated to pani-puris to top it off.“
Q5. When did you start believing your ability could meet your passion?
“From 10th grade. It was the first time I was playing in a leather ball match and went to open in a 15-over game. I stayed there till the end and got out as the 9th batsman in the 12th over. After that, the next couple of years, I played a lot of cricket, especially tennis-ball cricket.
In my bachelor’s years, I would play with people who would come from across the city every Sunday 7 AM-noon. There were so many people, we had to create 12-13 member teams.
My parents used to say that I had a hard time waking up for my classes, but to play cricket, I would wake up anytime—even at 6 AM on a Sunday morning.”
Q6. How was the college cricket scene at your university?
“In the last couple of years of my bachelor’s, the matches were really competitive and fun. From February-April, it was basically a cricket fest out there.“
“Our aerospace department had a very good team, and the highlight was winning the Intra-College championships in my 3rd and 4th year.“
Q7. Do you have any stories from playing during your college days?
“Actually, the final match of the 3rd year championship was very interesting. There was sledging throughout the match but after we won, the situation got out of control. The opposition team broke our winning huddle with a full-on fight.
Next year, we were prepared and brought officials to the game, but this time, the other team had learned the lesson and walked off quietly after losing.”
Q8. Best performance?
“The 3rd-4th year, I had some really good matches. In the 4th year final, I came to bat early and stayed till the end. When the final ball was bowled, I ran three and was completely exhausted.
I did not realize this but my teammates started cheering from the pavilion that I had just made 50. My career in India ended with an unbeaten 50, so that was nice.”
The What – College Cricket in America
Before we get into Avinash’s own cricket journey in the U.S., let us learn some things about the cricket structure in America in his words.
Q9. At what levels have you played cricket in the U.S.?
“I played at the university level at Iowa State University (ISU) between 2014-18, and played for the DSM Vikings Club for couple of years after that. I am now playing again for ISU (2021-24).
The Iowa State team was one of the most diverse teams I have ever played in. There were people from India, England, Bangladesh, South Africa, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.“
Q10. How many different types of tournaments are at the college and club level?
“Tape-Tennis (Indoor), Tennis-ball cricket (Outside), Leather-Ball cricket: T20, T30, T40. My favorite is T30. Gives me time to settle down and score.
In 2024, we started to play the 100-ball format as well.”
Q11. What are some tournaments you have participated in college cricket?
“Iowa State Premier League (ISPL), Midwest League and the American College Cricket League in Florida with ISU and Heartland Cricket League with Vikings club.”
American College Cricket League is a national tournament with about 32-36 teams that compete in Florida. I competed in this league for a couple of years, and we even got to play at the Ft. Lauderdale stadium, where West Indies have played some international games.
The ISPL was also pretty interesting. There were 8 teams made of 5 ISU students, 1 professors XI, and 2 guest teams. For the 5 student teams, team selection was based on virtual bidding.“
The Now – The Journey in America
Q12. First Match in the U.S.?
“First official match in U.S. was Iowa State in a leather ball game – ISU Cyclones vs Cedar Rapids Kings at Seminole Valley Park. Scored 14 runs and ran-out my teammate.”
Q13. Best Moments?
“With Iowa State, I was a part of a team that won 3 back-to-back championships 2015-2017. In that team, I had to bat lower down the order since everyone was just so good.After 2017, I moved to the middle order, and the last two years, I have been playing 1 Down with the Vikings.
A fun moment was in 2015, when I was fielding in the slips, and we did ‘proper dignified sledging’ to the opposing captain, who was batting then. A few balls later, he did a ‘well left’ and got clean bowled.
Personally, the 2018 T20 Challenger’s cup and the 2019 T20 season was my best. Given my gameplay, I am not someone who is expected to hit six sixes, but in one match I hit a fast bowler 6,6,2,4,1 that season.”
Q14. Lowest Moments?
“Lowest moments are always when I get out, especially when I am playing well.
But exactly a year ago today, September 7, 2019, I suffered a finger injury in the final of the tournament and could not bat for the team.
Earlier in the season, our team won the T20 league. We won all the games convincingly and hardly anyone below 2-down had a chance to bat. In the T30 tournament, I was one of the more experienced batsman in the team, being the 3rd most capped in leather ball cricket.
Finger injury ruled me out of the rest of the game, and our team fell short of 30 runs.“
Q15. Any other activities you were involved with cricket?
“I was involved as the Secretary in our Cricket Committee at Iowa State and got the experience to publicize cricket through various events like ClubFest at Iowa State University.”
The Wow – Reflection
Q16. Reflection on Cricket in the U.S.?
“The quality of cricket here is way better than expected where cricket is still an evolving sport, especially universities. Every city you will find at least 100 such people like me who want to play professional cricket.
Also, there is a lot of diversity in the cricketers here. Apart from the subcontinent, I have played with people from England, South Africa, the Caribbean islands and Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan to name a few.”
Q17. How has cricket helped you?
“Cricket has helped me both professionally and personally. My circle has increased because of it, and there are several networking opportunities.
As I mentioned earlier, cricket has helped me culturally, meeting people with various backgrounds. I have also got to travel to several places like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Michigan, Omaha, and at the Central Boulevard Park (Ft. Lauderdale).”
Q18. What have you learned from cricket?
“I have learned to stay calm. When you are calm, you have a lot of ideas. When you become aggressive, you run out ideas.”
“You get lots of suggestion coming around when you are on the field. You have to choose what to pick. It is easier to comment than to execute.”
Q19. Cricketing heroes and what you have learned from them?
“Ganguly – captaincy/leadership, Dravid – concentration/patience, Tendulkar – champion – there is nobody like him”
The Zow – Broken Cricket Dream?
Q20. What is your broken cricket dream?
“I was never coached. If I would have been coached, it would have taken things to another level. If I were in India, I would also have continued.”
Q21. Broken Cricket Dream as a fan?
“As an Indian cricket fan, 2003, 2007, and 2019 World Cups along with the 2017 Champions Trophy. The 2003 Final was so one-sided after such a great run.”
Q22. Any final thoughts on your dream lived?
“I could not imagine what I have done had I not played cricket all these years. My master’s would be something else, a completely different experience.”
What Does The Future Look Like?
Q23. How long will you continue to play cricket?
“As long as possible. Several 44-45 year olds play in the leagues here, so still have at least 15-16 years.”
Q24. Any advice for budding cricketers in the U.S.?
“If you want to pursue full-time, stay in warmer states so can play year-long. There are indoor facilities in some of the bigger cities like Chicago, but playing year-long outdoors is always better.”
Q25. Final question—Favorite IPL Team for 2020?
“SRH and RCB.”
Well, let us thank Avinash for doing this interview and sharing his journey with us. Please share, subscribe, and comment below on your own cricket dreams and experiences.
Also, to learn more about cricket in the U.S., check out the sources linked below! We will leave you with some more pictures of Avinash’s cricket journey.
This week in our segment, Cricket ABCs -For New Future Fans, we will relive some of the most popular cricket videos in the last decade. The goal of this section is to try to explain the game of cricket to your new friends. And the best way to explain is by Videos.
Last time, we went over the rules of cricket. So now, let us learn cricket by watching some videos in different categories – fielding, bowling, and batting.
We are only using videos over the last 10 years for two reasons: (1) since the game has evolved over the years, and (2) enhanced video quality.
Below each video is a description and the number of views on YouTube (and still rising) for your reference. Here is my compilation of the most popular cricket videos.
Comment below on your favorite videos, and share this with new fans who are trying to learn cricket.Enjoy!
Videos
1. Best Catches – WC 2019 Edition
Starting where we left off in our last article over Best Fielders, we relive some of the best catches of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. There were diving catches, acrobatic boundary efforts, wicket-keeper excellence, and much more.
Views: 10 million
2. Best Yorkers – WC 2019 Edition
Moving on tobowling. One of the ways of getting batsmen outis by hitting the wickets, known as – ‘bowled.’The most pleasing way for a bowled is for a toe-crushing ‘yorker.’ Enjoy this video on the Best Yorkers from the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Views: 20 million
3. Mitchell Johnson – Bouncer Compilation
Continuing with bowling, we look at the ‘Bouncer.’ This is a tactic used by bowlers to intimidate the batsman, and in the process, driving a mistake out of them. Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14 became one of the best and scariest bowlers, when he single-handedly destroyed a generation of the English team.
Views: 1.7 million
4. Biggest Sixes – WC 2019 Edition
Moving to batting. While bowlers and fielders try to restrict the number of runs the batting team can score, the batting team tries to score as many as possible. The most runs that a team can get from one ball is from a six, when the ball goes out of the stadium without bouncing. Here are the biggest sixes from the 2019 cricket world cup.
Views:4.6 million
5. Dinesh Karthik’s Day Out
This one is also batting excellence.One of the best viewings of a cricket match happens when a game is thriller. This video is on a T20 game, where after 4 hours, there was little to separate the two sides. Bangladesh were ahead with just about 15 minutes to go in the Final of the Nidahas Trophy, when Dinesh Karthik scripted a once-in-a-lifetime comeback.
Views: 98.9 million (Let us see if we can take to a 100 million views!)
6. Dinesh Karthik Part II
Oh and that was not the end. You thought 98 million is a lot. How about 169 million views and counting? Watch Dinesh Karthik seal the tournament final with a last ball six.
7. The Most Epic Ending of All
Speaking of last-ball thrillers, how about leave the best for last? World Cup FinalSuper Over tie. For all the non-cricketing fans, both the actual match and the overtime, called the Super Over, were tied.
Ian Smith, the commentator, summarized it best, “7 weeks of cricket, 48 games, and one ball.”
Earlier this week, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina hung their boots. Tributes flew from all over the world, cricketers from different countries, and fans on Twitter.
This week on Twitter Special, we did a #FirstMemory reflecting on our first memory of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina respectively.
Here are some of the responses we have received so far. Enjoy the ride and comment below on your own #FirstMemory of Dhoni and Raina.
“My first memory of MS DHONI which i can recall very fondly is…that Innings against Sri Lanka at Jaipur…I remember after returning from school…”
“I saw the scorecard of the Sri Lanka batting..it read as 298 runs after 50 overs…those days it was a massive total.. Everyone had the hopes that Sachin & Sehwag duo can change the things for India..As Indian Innings got underway..Sachin was dismissed in the very first over..”
“By Vaas after scoring 2 runs…it couldn’t have a been worse start than this…then walks MS DHONI in at number 3..We have seen what he can do against Pak at Vizag..but can he deliver under immense pressure in a massive run Chase…he started his Innings in blazing fashion..”
“Hitting Vaas over extra cover for 2 massive sixes…i was Literally amazed how easily he’s hitting those out of the park..then it was all MS show from there on…Smashed Farvez Maharoof for four just straight over the Umpires head…that was brute power..I tell you..”
“He was hitting sixes with ease…bashed Upul Chandana all over the ground…hitting 10 sixes in an Innings those days were massive massive achievement..when he hit that winning six against Dilshan…whole India knew…this man is special.. he’s not afraid of the runs.”
“No pressure during run-chase..calm cool & composed…and he’s having the brute power..on his day he can murder any bowling line-up..from that day..I always wanted to see MS bat..as the time passed..his legacy continued to grow..and now as he has bid aideu to this game..”
“Only one thing I can say is…there can’t be another MS DHONI..the void will be always there…”He was once a generation player”
“my first fond memory of msd was during the Pakistan series when Pervez Musharraf who was Pak president appreciated him and told him to keep the hairstyle. For Raina its not a particular match but his fielding stood out very early”
4. Vandit
“It was about a month later [of Dhoni’s 183], when we visited India, and my grandparents had saved some newspaper cuttings from that ODI series. I went through all of the newspapers, and this Dhoni innings stood out (India won that series 6-1 so it was hard for one thing in particular to stand-out).
“I remember adding up the number of runs he made from boundaries and realising he made as many runs from sixes as from fours (unheard of at the time). But I only thought of him as a wicketkeeper batsman and would never have imagined the impact he would eventually have with his captaincy.”
“Coming on to Raina…his first memory which i can recall is his match Winning Innings against England at Faridabad in 2006… India were chasing 230 odd runs and We were at 92/5..then MS & Raina joined in the Middle…MS played the supporting role to Raina in that game…”
“Very fluently Raina took the attack to the English bowlers…on his day Raina was a pure match winner in the shorter formats..and that was his day..that day he announced to the World Cricket that a guy from UP is going to be a hero in the future…he made 81* in that game…”
“And took India to a victory in that tough run Chase…till 2008..his place in the side was not fixed..after that Asia Cup in 2008..where he tonked then second fastest hundred by an Indian against Hong Kong..he was a permanent member in the side…”
“That was my #FirstMemory of those two legends..hope you enjoyed reading this…Thanks mate…”
@ImRaina “I remember the day when you scored your first century (2008), I was 7 years old ……when u got out I write your name in my hand and keep telling everyone that Raina hits a hundred #firstmemory. Thanks for the millions of memories u gave us to celebrate.” #rainaretires
That is all from this week! Share your own #FirstMemory or #BrokenDreams in the comments below! And as always, share with your friends, subscribe, and follow us on Twitter!
We all dreamt of playing sports as kids—whether it was cricket, football, basketball, or tennis. Bat in hand, the sun shining & wind blowing, crowd roaring. You know the feeling.
But then…life happens. We can all relate.
Five years ago, I asked a simple question on Twitter: “What was your broken cricket dream?”
Since then, replies have kept coming in. Stories of talent that never got a chance. Coaches who looked the other way. Family duties that took priority, and injuries that refused to heal. Some stories might be hilarious. Others cut deep.
This is a space for them. For the dreamers who almost made it. For the ones who never got their shot.
Who knows, maybe by sharing these stories and looking back, some deep down wounds can be healed. We can find a little closure or at least remind each other that we weren’t alone.
In any case, sit back, enjoy, and comment below on your broken dreams stories!
“Made 3rd grade as an 18-year old, despite a shortened season due to a stress fracture in my foot. So, was looking forward to the next season, until a badly torn hamstring and regular injuries resulted in me having to stop playing.” #BrokenDreams
“It was during the first year in college. After training hard for 6 months, didn’t get picked in the squad due to politics and favoritism.” #Brokendreams
“Didn’t realize my love for basketball until later in high school. Missed playing on team and missed watching so much of 2000s Lakers/Spurs/Celtics. Missed out on prime AI, Kobe, KG, Tim, Shaq, Yao, Nash, and T-Mac.”#Brokendreams
6. M. Borrie
“My broken dream in cricket, can’t bat, bowl, or field! Just sticking to the spectator seat for the summer of cricket! NZ playing continue to play great cricket. Test matches, ODIs, T20s – now good at all of them!”
“Giving up a team and club I loved to work in the mines so I could afford to pay for my education. By the time I came back to the game, my youthful talents were gone.”
8. Michael Higgitt
“As along in the tooth player now. Remember back in 1984 batting in a league match and racing along to 73 with many overs to spare then the opposition opening bowler bowled be a bouncer which got big on me and I holed out to midwicket. That was my best score never got a ton in many years playing. That ball haunts me to this day. Ha ha.”
“…watching that Hamphire team that came to visit us in 76 or 77 and being in awe of how good of the likes of Richards, Greenidge and Marshall and the even the lesser mortals were – then figured out that this 10 yr old wasn’t likely to play cricket for a living after all …I’m still trying to figure out what I am going to do when I grow up nearly 50 years later.”
9. Elliot Roberts
“98 and getting out to worst ball of the innings.”
10. Phil Hayes
“Too many to mention. One particularly galling moment was being put on to bowl, and watching my captain drop the easiest catch in cricketing history. Then he took me of!!!”
11. Jamie Gibbons
“I took 8 wickets. It was only after the match someone pointed out to me that the 2 I didn’t get were both dropped off my bowling. Another dropped catch a year or two later cost me a second hat-trick in 3 weeks. I hate fielders, usually second slip in my case.”
12. Anwar Rizwi
“After a few successful seasons at club level as a leg spinning all rounder I had aspirations to move up to county level. Had trials with a county 2nd XI and the coach said I had a suspect bowling action. Aside from the disappointment of not getting through the trials it had a massive knock on effect on my confidence and I was never the same bowler again.”
“For me it was being selected for the county first team, then the game being rained off without a ball being bowled, and not selected again…“
14. Mark Bury
“Too many to mention, I probably need a mentor or a senior player or coach in my days in grade cricket, but still playing and enjoying it in my 60s.”
“Ironically enough, now I am 62 years of age, and I open the batting for a different county’s disabled cricketing team – the Berkshire Stags. Strange considering I always used to be a bowler rather than a batsman.”
15. Ubaid Shaikh
“Losing the semi to Australia in 1987. I started taking interest back then at a tender age. I cried like anything.”
16. Tony Amos
“1995 I was Snaresbrook 2nd XI Captain. My best season with the bat but we ultimately lost out on the league title by one point to Ilford Catholics. Tough to take.“
17. Neil Matthews
“Many years ago when I realised that I’d never be a fast bowler. Opening bowler for my club, got to play at a reasonable league level, always trained hard, and could be quite sharp at times. A 16 year old lad joined our club, no coaching, ambled in to bowl and was at least a yard quicker than me without looking like he was trying! Beautiful natural action, that ‘whip’ in his wrist. I often look back and think if he’d had my work ethic (I desperately wanted to be quick) or I’d had his talent/fast twitch muscle fibres one of us could have gone further. But that we it for me, I realised at that moment that you can’t put in what god left out!”
18. Craig Lawn
“Run out for 99 after only one fielder appealed. My so called teammate thought it would be funny to give me out.”
19. Dan Trace
“Tapped my bat in an innings where I was seeing the ball like a beach ball, coming off a season where I’d averaged 50+ (regional cricket, so nothing special but good for me) the previous season, but had injured myself in the off season (badly, but not surgery badly). I tapped my bat and my shoulder dislocated again, it literally fell out of the joint.
That was the end of me basically being any sort if influential cricketer at any level. Took 4 years to get back into it and was never the same, but enjoyed a few more seasons before focusing on other pursuits “
20. Scott Strain
“Waiting for my first Ashes in Sydney. Being caught up in traffic and arriving at my seat in the SCG half an hour late to find England 23-5. Day ruined before it started!”
21. Alistair Robson
“Losing the semifinal in Barclays national school tournament, 1980’s, after becoming area and regional winners. A certain Gary Palmer, son of umpire Ken, did for us. I’m quite proud he didn’t get me out, but that’s partly because I was bowled by a grass cutter for 4 at the other end. Still, great memories.”
22. Cameron Hall
“Churchie 3rds 1982 v Toowoomba Grammar. Probably field 2 or 3 on the top of the mountain. To win for the blue & grey, Catch goes up and down at cow corner. Long trip back to oaklands parade!!”
23. Steve Carrington
“Given out lbw last ball of the innings after batting for 30 overs to save match. Padding up to a poor ball which was pitching a good ft outside leg stump. Even their keeper admitted it wasn’t out.”
24. Jamie Mcdonald
“When I realised at 30 that my knees were hurting so bad after every match, I couldn’t play anymore.”
25. Nickolas Marko Cindric
“48 no against the sheep violators at Wangary, boys failed to notify me,as I wailed my mates suburb SS Jumbo like a thrashing machine, been demoted by the skipper to number 9, had to flex the levers.”
26. Steve Rogerson
“Going to Old Trafford in 1983 to watch England v India in the World Cup semi final. I was 13 and we got hammered.”
27. Andrew Wilkinson
“Day 5 of the Ashes at Old Trafford in 2023, and my 58th birthday. England hot favourites to win and a very good chance we would have then gone onto win the Ashes. In true Manchester fashion, it rained all day!”
And Luke sums it up perfectly.
27. Luke Grogan
“For many, there’s a million heartbreaks in cricket at different times.
It only lasts a short time. Then the next season, you’re straight back on that pitch; ground or with your clubmates – getting geared up for another crack!
A negative moment in cricket never breaks you. It just puts you on the back foot, to reassess where you’re at – and move forward.”
Gaurav Trivedi: “…cricket over the weekends is something that gives me sanity and keeps me away from breaking down under difficult situations. Cricket is love.”
If you have such stories you want to share, send them in!
I hope you had a laugh or even a tear drop. Maybe we all could not become professional sports players. Maybe just a random cricket blogger or a fan (me). Or chose another profession-engineer and artists, or doctors and musicians, or started our own business.
But that is completely okay! We should not have regrets.
Everyone has his or her own journey, and we should appreciate life just as it is. Just look back, smile, and enjoy the small moments.
Anyway, send in your stories, and we will publish it on your next iteration of Twitter Specials: Broken Dreams. Follow us on twitter, please subscribe below to our blog, and share along!
If you like this content and want to support the author, please consider buying Power Play: 10 Life Lessons from the Sport of Cricket: Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21.
Living in a country where cricket is not a popular sport, it has been hard explaining the rules of cricket to my friends. In this new segment we call Cricket ABCs – For new future fans, we will try to explain the game of cricket for people who have not yet had the exposure to this sport. And don’t worry seasoned fans, we will have lots of videos here so it will not be just boring instructions!
This is a great three minute video by the ICC, the International Cricket Committee (basically the FIFA of cricket).
Still have questions? Leave a reply below, and we will address it in our future posts.
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