Fruit seller Ajit Yadav justifies Mumbai selection with 77 for Khar Gymkhana

Khar Gym’s Ajit Yadav, who has been picked in the Mumbai squad

A couple of years ago, Ajit Yadav, 21, used to sell fruits with his father Ravindrakumar on a footpath near Aghadi Nagar in Andheri (East).

On Sunday, he justified his selection in the Mumbai team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by smashing 77 (9x4, 3x6) for Khar Gymkhana in the Dr HD Kanga Cricket League ‘B' Division.

Playing at their home ground against United Cricketers, Yadav's half-century and Riday Khandke's 67 helped Khar declare their first innings at 241-5. In reply, United Cricketers managed 84-6.

Suved Parker. Pic/Atul Kamble

"I just told myself to play my normal game today [Sunday]. Recently, I scored a 40-ball 70 in the first selection match and got 60 off 30 balls in front of [Mumbai captain] Ajinkya Rahane. These knocks provide me a lot of confidence to perform well for Mumbai," Yadav told mid-day.

Yadav represented Mumbai at the U-16 level and was in the Mumbai U-19 probables for a couple of years. "I worked hard to get selected for Mumbai. After my practice sessions in the morning I used to help my dad and elder brothers [Amit and Chandan] at our fruit shop. Kiran [Powar] sir has supported me a lot. He gave me a lot of practice and equipment," Yadav remarked.

Meanwhile, three Mumbai batsmen - Divyaansh Saxena, Suved Parkar and Bhupen Lalwani - who failed to make it to the Mumbai squad for the T20 tournament starting in Jaipur on October 16, hit back with centuries for their respective teams.

Divyaansh Saxena at Islam Gymkhana yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

In a Division ‘B' game at Islam Gymkhana, Saxena smashed 152 to help Dadar Union post 237-9 declared against Muslim United SC. In reply, Muslim United declared at 149-7.

Put into bat at Cross Maidan, Victory CC posted 265-5 declared, thanks to Parkar's 112 (14x4, 2x6) and 73 from Sairaji Patil. In reply, Fort Vijay CC were bowled out for 129. Left-arm spinner Vijay Gohil claimed 6-53.

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Meanwhile, in a ‘A' Division game at Police Gymkhana, Payyade SC opener Lalwani's 104 helped the former champions post 190 all out against Sind SC. Awais Khan (73) and Puneet Tripathi (44) tried their best, but fell eight runs short to end the game at 182-6.

Bhupen Lalwani

In another Division ‘A' game, Parsee Gymkhana's left-arm spinners - Shams Mulani (5-22) and Sagar Udeshi (5-28) bundled out visitors Cricket Club of India for a mere 70. In reply, riding on Kevin Almeida's 74, the Marine Drive team declared their first innings at 123-4 to register their first win of the season.