Punnaiah fights poverty to make Ranji Trophy debut for Hyderabad
Hyderabad: When 18-year-old Bhuvanagiri Punnaiah was informed that he would be making his debut in Ranji Trophy against Bengal recently, he was a bit nervous. The struggles he went through to realise his dream to play for the State flashed in front of his eyes. With senior pacer CV Milind suffering an injury in the […]
Hyderabad: When 18-year-old Bhuvanagiri Punnaiah was informed that he would be making his debut in Ranji Trophy against Bengal recently, he was a bit nervous.
The struggles he went through to realise his dream to play for the State flashed in front of his eyes. With senior pacer CV Milind suffering an injury in the first Ranji Trophy match, Punnaiah was called in to replace him.
“Playing in Ranji Trophy was my dream and when I came to know that I would be playing against Bengal, I was very tensed. But the seniors in the team like captain Tanmay Agarwal, Ravi Teja and Akshath Reddy backed me. They told me to take it easy and bowl like I did in the under-19 tournaments I played earlier. Their words settled my nerves,” said the youngster.
However, his journey to the State team was filled with obstacles. With his parents not able to support him financially, he struggled to pursue his dream. His father Anjaneyulu, who migrated to Hyderabad from Narasaraopet near Guntur nearly two decades ago in search of livelihood, makes a living by collecting doors from damaged or collapsed buildings and repairs them before selling them to shops. His mother Polamma works as a maid.
However, things looked better for his cricketing aspirations when former BCCI junior selection committee chairman V Chamundeswaranath saw him at the academy. Punnaiah, who started playing cricket in his school Shri Saraswathi Shishu Mandir in Kukatpally with a tennis ball, was picked up by coach Naresh. The coach saw his express pace and encouraged him to join Ramanaidu Cricket Academy in Film Nagar. Chamundeswaranath identified the talent and found him a place in Deccan Blues to play in two-day league matches. With good performances there, he moved to three-day league representing MP Colts.
His achievements earned him a place in the State under-19 team for Cooch Behar and Vinoo Mankad tournaments. He picked up 20 wickets in five matches, which included two five-wicket hauls, in the Cooch Behar tournament. The performance helped him make it to the senior team for this Ranji Trophy season.
The lanky pacer, who stopped after completing intermediate, also thanked Chamundeswaranath who gifted him an electric scooter. “When I train with the State team I have to go to Gymkhana Ground or Uppal Stadium from Kukatpally. And so, Chamundi sir gifted me an electric scooter,” he revealed.
With his family living in a roadside hut, he dreams of buying a flat for his parents. “I want to do well, pick up more wickets for the team and earn a living. I want to shift my family to a house,” he said.
He also said that his ultimate dream is to play for the country. “I consistently bowl at 130 kmph and I want to improve my game and play for the country. That is my big dream,” he added.
Speaking about Punnaiah, Chamundeswaranath said, “He is a very talented cricketer and is also part of the Indian camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He will be sent to Australia for special training. Punnaiah has this sheer determination and he can bowl long spells with the same speed. I also heard the Royal Challengers Bangalore team is interested in him after watching the match against Bengal. He has a bright future.”
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