HS Sharath's rise to the top

In an interview with the Hindu, Karnataka fast bowler HS Sharath shares the story of his rise from a cricketer in the town of Mandya, near Mysore, to Ranji Trophy success for his state side.

"When I started serious cricket, I didn't know how far I could go in the sport or what I could achieve. I came from a village and I didn't know what was what. Then I played for the state under-19s, and as I watched Ranji Trophy games here, I gradually realized that cricket could take me somewhere if I worked hard."

That hard work is a recurring theme. His father, Shivalingaiah, who watched him in a competitive game for the first time last week, is a farmer. His village, Hosagavi, is a 25km journey from Mandya, where he went to pre-university. Often, he missed the last bus home for cricket practice. "I'd walk home sometimes, alone in the dark, wondering if cricket was worth all the trouble."