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New Delhi: Shikhar Dhawan is not the first cricketer to play for India from Tarak Sinha’s coaching stable. Over the years, the veteran coach has trained and produced some of the most illustrious names in capital’s cricket including Manoj Prabhakar, Raman Lamba, Ajay Sharma, Sanjeev Sharma, Ashish Nehra and Akash Chopra.
Yet, on Saturday, Sinha said that watching Shikhar crack an unbeaten hundred against Australia at Mohali was one of the happiest moments in his life. “It was not about the manner by which Shikhar hit those 185 runs… That’s his style. I am familiar with it.
“What made me happy is that Shikhar managed to make best use of the chance that came his way. There was a time when we all were a bit disappointed because he couldn’t break into the Indian team. But he proved himself at the Test arena at the first available opportunity… This shows that he has become a matured batsman,” said Sinha.
Madan Sharma, who used to coach Shikhar during his school days, said: “Still, he comes to my nets to practise. Before this match, he practised with plastic balls. It helped him to play this innings at Mohali. He is a very hard-working player. And today, all that paid off.”
While Shikhar’s coaches remained glued to their television sets once their ward came out to bat, his mother, Sunaina, was too nervous to watch the innings from the start. “I was a bit apprehensive… So I didn’t watch it from the beginning,” admitted his mother. “I started watching him bat only after he completed the century.... I am sure that he will score many more centuries like this,” said the proud mother.
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