Chasing the cricket dream, à la Munaf Patel

Swati Bhan, writing for the Deccan Herald, says boys from Munaf Patel’s village in Gujarat, who hail from families which find it near impossible to afford a pair of spikes, are inspired by Patel’s success and a passion for the game to pursue cricket.

His [Munaf Patel] achievements have triggered a trickle-down effect with hundreds of children taking to cricket seriously in southern Gujarat. Children travel several kilometres and sometimes hitch-hike rides to pick up the basics of the game at the academies that have mushroomed in the wake of Munaf becoming a star.