Akshay creates a splash

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Being ambitious doesn’t matter much if you don’t combine your talent with determined efforts and it is in this context that emerging cricketer Akshay Kodoth strikes a chord, having earned his distinction as a rising in cricket.

The 19-year-old wicket-keeper batsman was the mainstay of the Kerala cricket team in both the matches the State had won in the Ranji Trophy this season. His resolute efforts behind the stumps and good show with the bat have proved him to be more than just a lucky charm.

“I believe all this happiness is just the beginning for me and I need to make it special. I’m just waiting to set my platform and then build my career on it,” said Kodoth, after bagging the winning catch for Kerala off Sony Cheruvathur’s bowling in the game against Andhra.

Kodoth who had his schooling in Bangalore arrived at the cricketing scene in Kerala in 2007 as an under-17 player representing his father’s home district Kollam. Since then he has risen through the ranks and was made the captain of the state under-22 side this year and now wears the senior cap.

The stylish player, who resembles Rahul Dravid in his stance, proved during his innings of 30 against Andhra that the resemblance was not just in the stance but in stroke-making as well.

“Since my under-13 days I have been copying Dravid’s style, but now I’ve adjusted to it,” said Kodoth.

While his 50-run 7th wicket partnership with the experienced Sony became decisive in the game against Andhra, his wicket-keeping was simply outstanding given the unpredictable nature of the pitch that would have troubled even the best keepers of the game.

He dared to stand up to the stumps to medium-pacer Sony collecting two catches and one stumping against Tripura and two each against Andhra, better figures than the two opposition keepers put together.

In Kodoth, Kerala has found a gem and if polished with the right opportunities and occasional pat on the back, he has the potential to become a player the cricketing world will talk about.