R Sathish was among several talented players from Tamil Nadu who shifted allegiance to the Indian Cricket League. A useful batting allrounder and excellent fielder - one of the best in the country - Sathish had established himself as an integral member of the Chennai Superstars, one of the strongest teams in the competition. After topping the run charts for Chennai in the ICL's second tournament, he was given the captaincy of the ICL India XI and led his side to the inaugural title. An affable and chirpy character off the field, Sathish warmed hearts with his attitude and performances to match. Sathish's rise to the top was by no means easy. Hailing from a modest background, he was, however, fortunate to receive the backing of his family to take up the sport. Since the facilities in Trichy, his birthplace, weren't quite up to scratch, he changed schools for the sake of his cricket and had to cycle 20 km everyday to get there. After completing his engineering, he moved to Chennai to play league cricket and eventually made it to the Tamil Nadu team during the 2000-01 season. However, he failed to find a regular place in the squad and shifted to Assam in 2003. His batting flourished while playing for his adopted state team, averaging over 54 over two seasons. Ironically, he made his highest first-class score - 204* - against Tamil Nadu and was persuaded to return. Despite returning to his home state, he wasn't a regular in the squad and that prompted his decision to join the ICL, which gave him the recognition he never got as a first-class cricketer. He quit the ICL after two seasons and joined the exodus when the BCCI offered amnesty. He was later given an IPL contract with Mumbai Indians.
Kanishkaa Balachandran February 2010