Sarvesh: Rising above family pressures

LIKE MOST other boys his age in the country, Sarvesh Kumar too wanted to be a cricketer. He wanted to play for his country, make a name for himself and see his name go up in lights. Always a standout performer at the school level, Sarvesh had been tipped by his coach for great things.

He was asked to attend nets regularly, work on his fitness and success would follow. The big league beckoned, Sarvesh's dream was well on its way to reality.
There was just one problem.

Sarvesh's father did not quite approve. A small-time welder in a factory in Medak, Sarvesh's father wanted his son to start 'earning some real money' as soon as possible and not 'while away his time playing'.

So vehemently opposed to the idea of Sarvesh playing cricket was the Kumar household that Sarvesh's father actually grounded his son for disobeying his diktat.

Concerned about the continued absence of his favourite student from practice, Sarvesh's coach, Rajender, decided to pay the Kumars a visit. Learning about his family's apprehension about Sarvesh's future as a cricketer, and their decision to stop him from doing what he loved the most, Rajender decided to take matters into his own hands. He promised the family that Sarvesh would make it big, that he was just not wasting his, and his father's, time by playing the game.

It probably wasn't the easiest decision Sarvesh's father had to make. On one hand was Sarvesh's dream, his desire and, if his coach was to be believed, his destiny. On the other, cricket for Sarvesh would effectively make him the only earning member of the family.

Believing in his son and letting him follow his heart, Kumar let Sarvesh follow his dream. And he wasn't disappointed. Sarvesh's prowess with the ball did not go unnoticed. Impressed with his talent, Hyderabad selectors decided to give him a go in the Subbiah Pillai Trophy. His untiring spells, with good pace, caught the attention of a certain VVS Laxman, who gave the youngster a go in the first XI.

"I was surprised by the pace he generated. I was amazed by his consistent line and length and his ability to bowl long spells," said Laxman at Hyderabadfirst official media briefing. With his captain so effusive in his praise, it was hardly a surprise then, when Sarvesh was picked up for the Hyderabad IPL team. Though he did not feature in his team's first nine matches, he finally got his chance against Delhi on Thursday.

And while 0/24 were hardly the figures he would have liked to achieve, he showed enough promise for many to portend a bright future. This boy has sure come a long way.

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