India’s differently abled cricket Gurudas Raut, who was born without a left arm, has been bowling as a net bowler whenever Team India visits Nagpur.
Gurudas Raut’s biggest achievement till date is that he once dismissed the great Sachin Tendulkar in the nets. He has also faced Irfan Pathan and took catches off David Miller’s bat.
Raut was born in a family of farmers and his father had three sons. He was always passionate about the game but couldn’t take good coaching because of financial constraints. Thus, he relied on tennis ball cricket to keep his love and passion for the game alive.
Raut’s biggest breakthrough came in 2006 when he was picked to play cricket for Maharashtra and he hasn’t looked back since. He led India against Pakistan in an ODI series and won it 3-0. Presently, he is the vice captain of India’s differently abled cricket team.
In an interview to Hindustan Times, Gurudas Raut said that people used to mock, threaten and bully him and question how he would be a cricketer without a left arm.
“I remember people used to mock, threaten and bully me, and over everything, question how I would be a cricketer with a left arm. Well, today I am what I am. I used to hear comments like ‘You’re handicapped. Stay safe or else you’ll lose your other hand as well.’ It took me some time, but I realised they wouldn’t ever stop and it’s better if I don’t pay heed to their remarks,” Gurudas Raut told Hindustan Times.
Raut also told HT about his first encounter with leather ball cricket.
“One day I was standing next to the Reshimbagh cricket ground (a local club) where the batsman had hit a six and the ball was going to hit us. I was sipping tea with my friend. With no alternative, I had to throw the cup away and catch the ball one-handed. That was my introduction to leather-ball cricket. I didn’t even know there were official teams for people like us back then. Uttam Mishra, my sir, got me enrolled in a club. There, the coach provided me with necessary equipment.”
You can read Gurudas Raut’s complete interview on Hindustan Times.
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