Cricket is a very popular game in our country and after the exploits of the Indian team which has been doing well in the International scene, many youngsters have taken up cricket as their career. Mysuru also has its share of producing talented cricketers who have gone on to represent the country. On these lines is Mandya-born speedster H.S. Sharath who recently was part of the triumphant Karnataka team which won the Ranji Trophy for the second year in succession. Karnataka won the Ranji title with a innings and 217-runs win over Tamil Nadu at the Wankhede Stadium at Mumbai on Thursday. Sharath played his role with figures of 1/17 & 1/77 against Tamil Nadu and helped his team retain the coveted Ranji Trophy. He is our ‘Star This Week.’
Sharath, a right-hand medim-pacer and right-hand batsman, combined well with skipper R. Vinay Kumar, A. Mithun and S. Aravind to bowl out Tamil Nadu for a low first innings score of 134. He returned with figures of 15-6-17-1 in the first innings and in the second innings had figures of 20-4-77-1. He played three Ranji Trophy games for Karnataka this season and with four wickets, is an important member in the Karnataka team and has played his part in his team’s eighth Ranji title triumph.
Sharath came into the limelight when he won ‘Man of the Match’ award with his excellent eight wicket haul against Mumbai (five for 57 & three for 12) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in December 2013, which helped Karnataka to score a historic win in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘A’ tie against Mumbai at home after 22 years.
Sharath comes from a modest background, he started his cricket in Mandya seven years ago. He joined Vidyaranya Cricket Club and excelled in the KSCA Mysore Zonal league.
Helped and guided by his coach Mahadev, Sharath learnt the finer aspects of fast bowling and made his Ranji debut against UP at Meerut in November 2012.
He emerged as the highest wicket taker for Karnataka in 2013 with 24 wickets from seven matches. With 68 wickets already in Ranji trophy in 21 matches, Sharath is one of the main-stay in Karnataka’s battery of fast bowlers.
Sharath owes a lot to his father Shivalingaiah, who has sacrificed a lot for molding him into a fine cricketer. Helped by his Club Secretary Nagesh and KSCA Mysuru Zone, Sharath aims to do well in the days to come. Presently employed with State Bank of Mysuru, Bengaluru, he visits MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai for a three month period and trains under the legendary Australian fast bowler Glen McGrath.
The 6 foot 3 inch speedster and 21-year-old Sharath has the talent in him to go to the next higher grade.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / March 15th, 2015