Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS) The Skoda Single Wicket Tournament, an initiative by SKODA AUTO aimed at giving an opportunity to all aspiring cricketers in the country and tournament scouts for ‘Under 12 and ‘Under 14 age categories, held the final leg of the unique tournament on February 21 here.
The event unfolded at The Air India Sports Ground, Mumbai in the presence of young cricketers like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Unmukt Chand of the India U-19 team and veteran cricketer Nilesh Kulkarni.
The tournament sought to bring the Single Wicket format in cricket back to its glory as it swiftly identifies all-rounders and individual talent and skill.
The tournament is a six-ball/one over cricket format played between two players alternatively, that is, each participant will get a chance to bat, bowl, and demonstrate their skills.
Started in July 2019, the tournament has travelled to 49 cities across the country in search of the best all-rounder. The shortlisted 98 individuals, in the Under 12 and Under 14 categories, travelled along with their parents to Mumbai for the finale. The national champions, across the two categories, were rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh to the winner and Rs 5 lakh for the runners up.
The winner for U-14 is Ravi Mohan Singh from Gurugram and the runner up is Raj Bharti from Delhi. The winner for U-12 is Sanskaar Gour from Nagpur and the runner up is Aryan Savsani from Rajkot.
Commenting on the tournament, Yashasvi said: “Every initiative which encourages and builds young sports talent like me is well appreciated. There is a wealth of untapped talent and platforms like Single Wicket Tournament are a great way to bring them to the fore. It feels great and inspiring to partake in the journey, however small or big, of aspiring sportspeople.”
On the other hand, sharing his views on the tournament, Unmukt Chand, who led the U-19 team for the world cup in 2012 said: “An ace team is possible only when each member is talented, passionate and well-honed. Platforms like Single Wicket Tournament are a great way for players to showcase their individual strengths and show potential in the big part of bigger, greater teams meant for victory.”
–IANS
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