SHAKTI
spins a powerful googly!
Shakti Gauchan returned from the UAE after his successful performance in the qualifier tournament. He had already packed his bags for his next day’s journey to his hometown, Bhairhawa. Before leaving for home, Shakti set off to meet his relatives living in the capital; but little did he know, he was in for the biggest surprise in his life; of course, a pleasant one.
As the hands of the clock struck 5:30 pm, Shakti’s Karbon mobile phone buzzed to reveal an unusual number. A call though unfamiliar, however played the sweetest melody Shakti had ever heard; and delivered a message powerful enough to divert his destination from Bhairahawa to Jaipur, the 'Pink city of India.'
It was not an ordinary phone call but a call from the National Cricket team coach Pubudu Dassanayake, who is currently in Canada, thrilled Shakti and left him wondering for some minutes. "I was awestruck. I asked the coach whether he was in Nepal or not? I had no idea why he made this sudden call to me," surprised Shakti said.
This was a dream come true for Shakti. It was his ticket to Indian Premier League (IPL), most celebrated and cash-rich cricket extravaganza league around the world, that goes on the floor from April 5. A local boy from Bhairahawa was called by IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals to join the training camp to be held in Jaipur from March 29 to April 5.
Celebration was inevitable. "Everyone started wishing me. They were so happy and excited about what had happened. But honestly, I was still in confusion and completely dumbstruck as to what had happened?" Shakti recalls this as one of the best sundown of his living.
Shakti became the first Nepali cricketer, offered to be a part of the IPL, what Shakti had not imagined even in his wildest dream. However, an email from the coach at 8 pm was all Shakti needed to assure him and get his adrenalin soaring. "Everything was so romantic and it became real with the email and call from our captain Paras", says Shakti.
A left hand spinner, Shakti will fly to Delhi from Kathmandu at 2:30 pm and catch a connecting flight to Jaipur the same evening. While the day is marked as one of the greatest day for Nepali cricket and everyone is keeping his or her finger crossed, Shakti thinks that being a part of Rajasthan Royals squad is a big achievement in itself. "I don’t know what will happen but I have goose bumps when I imagine myself as a part of Rajasthan Royals," adds Shakti with a smile.
Rajasthan Royals, looking for a left hand spin bowler, are the winner of the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008. What is more exciting about them is, the Bollywood bombshell Shilpa Shetty and her British born Asian beau, Raj Kundra are the owner of the team. Besides, some superlatives of cricket world like Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson, Shaun Tait, Ross Taylor, Paul Collingwood and other eminent team members will make Shakti's experience a lifetime memory undoubtedly.
If he does not fit himself in the playing list, then at least he is sure to bowl to Rahul Dravid in net sessions, whom he regards as the best batsman in the world. "Sharing bench with Rahul Sir is more than enough for me and playing with him would be an honor for me," speaks Shakti, who has met Rahul Dravid earlier in Bangalore in 2005 before sharing dressing room with 'The Wall'.
Shakti is out of words to describe what will happen when he will be bowling to Sachin Tendulkar. "Oh! my God. That would be the greatest moment of life. I cannot put them in words. I will be simply looking at the Master Blaster," Shakti shares his passion for his icon – Sachin Tendulkar, who represents Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
IPL has already been a widely watched league in Nepal and with Shakti Gauchan's presence will surely make Nepalese cricket lovers fish out some time for IPL and glue themselves to television. But, Shakti did not get this chance through any lottery. Shakti, 29 has had his fair share of struggle in his 12 years long career. His recent success in World T20 Qualifiers, held in the UAE last week, has finally given him the permit to IPL 5.
Grooming in India
Shakti Gauchan was born in the western city of Calcutta, while his father was serving as an Indian army. He spent most of his childhood in Gorakhpur and later moved to Calcutta and then to Bombay. Binay Saxena was the first coach to train the basics of cricket to Shakti. Then, he came in touch with Jwala Singh – a friend who was studying in the same school where Tendulkar studied– took him to the ground for the first time. Opening with school team, talented Shakti soon landed himself in the U-16 Bombay team and played some regional tournament in 1998. Later, he was selected for the All India U-16 Camp in 1999, which was also attended by Gautam Gambhir, the star opening batsman of Indian cricket team at present. Since then, Shakti had no idea about Nepali cricket at all. "I did not know that cricket was played in Nepal," recalls Shakti.
Doorway to Nepal
Shakti coming to Nepal was an unexpected turn in his cricket career, he had to visit Nepal with his mother, who was bedridden for six months after a gallstone operation. This six month long pause led Shakti to stay in Nepal, for good. He joined Khukuri Club followed by a U-17camp organized in Rupandehi. Soon, he was elected as district team captain and lifted the trophy for his team. Shakti was adjudged the-man-of -the-series of the tournament and received a cap to lead U-17 national team.
Temptation to Nepali cricket
Already a captain, Shakti was not serious with Nepali cricket, as the fame of Indian cricket was alluring him constantly. "I always wanted to go back to India and play there," shares Shakti. But, the proud moment came when he was representing Nepal in Bangladesh. "When teams were performing march past and I was holding the Nepali national flag, I came to realize how it feels to be a national player and a citizen," says Shakti. After that, Shakti never thought of going back, even though his mom continuously asked him to play in India. "Shakti, tum India kab aaoge? Jald aakar practice kar sakte ho?" Shakti remembers the phone calls from Indian teammates. "Nahi mai nahi aa sakta. humare Nepal me bhi team hai aur mai ab yahi ke liye khelna chahta hoo," answers Shakti.
Shakti's stardom
Shakti Gauchan, 29, is not a new name in Nepali cricket. Undoubtedly, he is among the best cricketers Nepal has ever produced. Shakti has been an incredible contributor for Nepal for 12 years. Popularly known as an orthodox left-hand-spinner, Shakti is the much admired player for his handy bowling show and crucial runs in Nepal's victories. When he was set out to launch his career for Nepal, he was seen as a dependable all-rounder. Shakti has more than 90 international appearances with about 100 wickets applauded with several man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series awards. He was also the vital member in the squad that was plate championship runner-up in New Zealand in 2001 under Binod Das' captaincy, which he recalls as one of his biggest achievement until now. All these point to a great cricketer, who holds greatness and down-to-earth traits.
Exile for two years
While Shakti was in his prime, he had been a headache for opponents. Though, armed with twisting deliveries, his career found a pad on the way. He was not selected in the squad, when Nepal left for Guangzhou in 2010. This was complete injustice to the player who had never performed below average and had been a trump card for big matches. "I was not picked up for the first time though my performance had not faded," blames Shakti adding, "They dropped me with lame excuses as being too old to play. They said that I was not doing well due to age factor. But, that was not logical."
The frustration of elimination was crippling him and he was depressed enough to think about hanging his boots. "Once I even thought of quitting cricket. The emptiness of life had surrounded me. But, it was all my frustration," expresses Shakti. However, he never gave up. He survived in his gloomy days and always sought for another chance to prove himself.
The final roar
As the cliché goes, you cannot keep a good man down; thus, Shakti soon paved his own path. When he was axed from the national squad for almost two years, he did not rant or plant his aggrieved plights in the media. He spent his dawns at the ground, quietly polishing his craft, picking gaps between bat and legs, and whittling those swift turns in his minds. "I did not let them decide to keep me away from what I loved. I was toiling hard in the middle just to prove myself. My arms were as strong as ever." In all, he was sharpening his blunt-labeled nails for the final roar.
Hats off to hat-trick
Finally, his day came. The senior team realized his experience and expertise. He was called back. "I got the chance to prove myself once again. It was my last chance because I would not get any other thereafter," says Shakti. And, he lived up to the expectation with a strong reply to all those who had once cut him off. Those who had criticized in his adversity came in front to wish Shakti, when he earned the first hat-trick against Denmark in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers 2012, concluded last week in the UAE. The hat-trick was also the first ever hat-trick for Nepal in men's international cricket of any format.
Waiting for the party time, Shakti enjoyed his moment running every corner of the ground and also showed something taken odd in cricket. He rolled down like a soccer player forgetting what he had went through becasue it was his moment. After the match, his roommate Mahaboob Alam read a facebook status for him that read "Welcome back Shakti Dai. Old is gold. You have proven that you are the best," touched Shakti. As the show dwindled on, he emerged as the highest wicket taker for Nepal. In all, Shakti had bagged 16 wickets, the third highest wicket taker of the tournament, where Nepal finished seventh. Later, he was included in the best XI list prepared by the famous Cricket website, Espncricinfo.com. Now, the green light from IPL outfit has added another golden brick to Shakti’s 12-year long career.
A family man
A 5’ 11’’ lanky Shakti gives due priority to his family as well. Married to Kavita, a childhood friend in 2005, Shakti has two daughters Sadiksha, 7 years and Kastur, 7 months. As the bread earner for his family, Shakti has been coaching New Horizon Higher Secondary School, Butwal for a decade.
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