Comparisons in sports are inevitable, especially when you’re the son of a big name in cricket. For some, it can be too big a burden to bear, for others it’s a standard to live up to and serves as an inspiration for even greater accomplishments. For Indian cricketer Akhil Rajput, it has always been the latter and has motivated him to continue his father Lalchand Rajput’s legacy by inheriting values such as discipline and hard work.
Having made his List A debut for Mizoram in the 2018-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he also made his first class debut at the Ranji Trophy the same year and his T20 debut at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2019. In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, Akhil Rajput speaks about his journey in cricket so far, favourite cricketers while growing up, toughest opponents, overcoming challenges, getting adequate support from the BCCI, his father’s influence and future goals.
Q 1) How old were you when you first started playing cricket and what got you interested in it?
My first inspiration is my dad. I used to go with him to matches and practice. That’s where I developed the love for this beautiful game and decided to be a professional cricketer. I was 11 years of age when I started taking cricket seriously.
Q 2) Who was your favourite player growing up and what did you like about him?
My favourite player was Sourav Ganguly, he was an inspiration. His attitude towards the game caught my eye. He was a true fighter who carried his heart on his sleeves
Q 3) Who is the toughest batter to bowl to and the toughest bowler to face in the domestic circuit?
The toughest bowler I ever faced was Ajit Agarkar. I had the privilege of sharing the dressing room with him when I was at the Tata Sports Club. Rahul Tewatia is another one who is tough to score runs against.
Q 4) What are some of the challenges you have faced in your career and how did you overcome them?
The toughest challenge for me was that I was a chubby kid and weight was always an issue. To overcome that with a good fitness routine, diet plans and becoming fit was the biggest challenge and I did manage to overcome it.
Q 5) Do domestic cricketers like yourself get adequate support from the BCCI or the state cricket boards?
Definitely. The BCCI has been really kind and it gives equal opportunities to every cricketer. It has opened a lot of doors for different careers like coaching, umpiring and other programs so that one can always pursue their love for the game through other ways and be associated with it.
Q 6) What are your future ambitions and what steps are you taking to achieve them?
The ultimate aim is to play for the country along with playing in the IPL. The main thing I want to do is enjoy the game, be associated with it and follow my passion for it as it takes a lot of sacrifices and hard work. To put all your efforts in and then to reap the fruits is more satisfying. Staying positive and following the process is what keeps me on track
Q 7) Since your father was a cricketer, how much of an influence has he had on your career and playing style? Do you feel added pressure because of the comparisons?
He has always been a very big part of my career. The love and passion for cricket comes from him. Our styles are different as I am a left handed batsman and he was a right handed batsman but the main thing which has influenced me is hard work. He always says “there is no substitute for hard work” and those words are always on my mind. That is what keeps me going and motivates me to put in all the work. Discipline is what I have inculcated from him. Initially there was pressure as comparison comes in naturally but understanding my game and backing myself gave me a clear mind and then it did not matter to me.
