Twists and turns in the life of Chennai Superstars’ vice-captain Rajagopal Sathish will give any Bollywood script a run for money.
Says getting the ICL India cap from Kapil was the most memorable moment
AHMEDABAD: Twists and turns in the life of Chennai Superstars’ vice-captain Rajagopal Sathish will give any Bollywood script a run for money.
The 27-year-old Chennai batsman lost his father at the age of six. His mother than took up the responsibility of the house comprising two sons and a daughter.
Sathish dreamt of donning the India colours and worked hard from the age group level and did quite well thereafter. Later in 2000-01 he was rewarded with a berth in the Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy side.
“I loved cricket like anything and would play all day in school. We used to practise on the mat as there was no turf in our district (Trichy). My mom wanted me to carry on and got me admitted to Campion High School which was 20km from my house. I used to travel on cycle everyday,” he told DNA.
However, after a couple of matches he was dropped from the team. “I got frustrated being dropped. Then I migrated to Assam to play for them and did quite well there too. I scored three centuries in 2003-04. Then I represented East Zone in the Deodhar and Duleep Trophy games,” said Sathish, who scored a quickfire 38 in his last outing against Chandigarh Lions that went in vain.
“Coincidentally I scored an unbeaten double hundred against Tamil Nadu that forced them to call me back. I even led once. But later same things started happening again. I was asked to sit out again. Then I got the ICL offer which I grabbed it with both hands,” he added.
Sathish went on to lead the India side in the Indian Cricket League’s Twenty20 World Series tournament. “That was really heartening. It was the most memorable moment of my life when Kapil Sir handed me the cap of the Indian team. I cannot forget that as we also defeated Rest of the World to win the title,” he added.
He is enjoying his stint with the ICL. “It has been superb. There is money, fame and cricket. Earlier my name appeared in the newspapers when I scored. But now it’s coming everywhere on the TV channels too. The best part is we get to play with quality players,” added Sathish, who is an engineer.
Pursuing both cricket and studies wasn’t difficult for the Tamil Nadu batter. “We have a study culture in our family. My younger brother is an engineer and my sister is an MCA. I did mechanical engineering. It was a bit difficult but I had great friends to help me out and make it easy for me.”
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