From All Saints High School to T20 World Cup

Hyderabad: From being All Saints School captain in Hyderabad to T20 World Cup it has been a fascinating journey for Shreemantula Sandeep Goud. This 29-year-old all-rounder represented Hyderabad under-15, under-17 and under-19 teams before moving over to Oman in 2016. He earned a place in the Oman team, an associate member of the ICC, to […]

Hyderabad: From being All Saints School captain in Hyderabad to T20 World Cup it has been a fascinating journey for Shreemantula Sandeep Goud. This 29-year-old all-rounder represented Hyderabad under-15, under-17 and under-19 teams before moving over to Oman in 2016. He earned a place in the Oman team, an associate member of the ICC, to play in the World Cup.

His teammates during his playing days in the city were Bavanka Sandeep and Akshath Reddy among others who are prominent members of the Hyderabad Ranji team. “I led All Saints for two years,’’ said Goud from Oman.

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Oman are presently playing the qualifying matches in Oman. After graduating in Commerce from Aurora College, he shifted to Oman in 2016 and was absorbed in Khimji Ramdas, an Indian company. But his passion for the game continued in his new place as he got to play in the local leagues for his company. “I got good scores and I was selected for the Oman A team.

In a warm-up match against Ireland, I hit a half century and won the match,’’ he said.
This was enough for the Oman selectors to pick him for the ongoing World Cup. “I was very excited when I got selected and more so it was initially to be played in India. But unfortunately due to Covid-19, the World Cup was shifted to this place. However, I still have a chance to play in India as Oman has a very good chance to play in the 2023 one-day World Cup as we are topping the group,’’ he added.

Goud has sweet memories of Hyderabad. “I remember the keema roti at Paradise we used to have after our matches at Gymkhana ground. If today, I am playing this level of cricket, it is because of my All Saints coaches Denzil Balm and Rashid Khan. It was Rashid who spotted me when I was playing in gully cricket and he took pains to introduce me to Balm sir who straightaway enrolled me in the school,’’ he said.

Balm said Goud was an exciting cricketer. “He showed a lot of promise from a young age and scored a lot of runs while playing for All Saints and later Deccan Chronicle. But unfortunately, he could not play for the Hyderabad Ranji team. He hails from a poor background as his father (late Ravinder Goud) did toddy business. I’m proud that he is playing in the World Cup today,’’ said Balm.

Goud said after he played his first match in the World Cup he rang up his mother (Sarala Goud), who had tears in her eyes. “My brother (Saikrishna) celebrated the occasion with my sisters (Shravani and Swetha). I’m happy I could fulfill my father’s wishes, who died in 2010.’’ The Gouds reside in Kavadiguda, Gandhinagar.

Incidentally, his under-15 and under-19 Hyderabad coach was R Sridhar, the present Indian fielding coach. “We hope to qualify to play in the Super 12 so that I can meet Sridhar sir in Dubai.’’

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