Dar es Salam (Tanzania), 1 February (H.S): Life at times throws surprises and challenges. The daring ones convert the challenge into an opportunity. The burning desire, dedication and resolve to achieve the goal against all odds make the ordinary stand out as extraordinary.

One such classic case is that of Ramesh Alluri, a Hyderabad, India-born cricketer settled in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa. In an exclusive interview with Hindusthan Samachar News Agency, the ace, pace bowler shares his journey of earning a place in Tanzania Cricket National Squad .

I was born and brought up in Hyderabad, India. I was deeply drawn to the magic of Cricket at a very young age which led me to train at the legendary Off Spinner Venkatapathi Raju's cricket academy in the year 2009...

...2010 remained to be a important year in my professional cricketing career. I was selected as one of the top ten fast bowlers by HCA, Hyderabad Cricket Association. It was a well-conducted training camp of three months and gave me enough opportunities to sharpen my skills as a fast bowler...

...In the Cricketing season of 2011, I played for yet another legendary Indian Cricketer Arshad Ayub's team. The fierce competition in the local cricket clubs and league helped me to acquire the necessary skills to earn a place as a pace bowler in my University team says Ramesh Alluri as we began the conversation.

I was a very ambitious sportsperson by nature and wanted to make it to two-day, three-day format and play for Hyderabad State Ranji Team. At this point, I insisted my coach impart cutting-edge training towards reaching my goal. His taunt, sarcastic and caustic remarks about my abilities and aspirations turned out to be a huge inspiration for me to develop my skills at my own pace.The year 2011, thus was a turning point in my life...

...Over the few years, I was fortunate that together with my few other cricketing friends I could, harness, and upgrade my skills and I had made good progress. As a pace bowler my name began to make rounds in the local cricketing fraternity. Soon I was invited to bowl at the nets to national and few International Touring Cricketing teams at Hyderabad. Bowling to legendary cricketers like Shane Watson, David Warner and Steve Smith of Australia has been one of the high points...

...I located to Tanzania in pursuit of my professional life in the year 2015. Being a professional cricketer came in handy as I could connect with the local cricketing clubs in Dar es Salaam. Professional workload allowed very little time for me to train and play cricket and it had a huge impact on my body and physical fitness. I was diagnosed with a knee injury that needed surgery back home in India in the year 2019. I was devastated when the doctors recommended me to take up playing Carrom instead of Cricket...

...But I was adamant and decided that this again was a golden moment to convert the challenge into yet another opportunity. I found my own methods , support system and created an ecosystem to get over the problem. Just when I was ready to come back to Dar es Salaam, the pandemic broke and it had impacted the lives of millions and I was no exception...

...In the year 2021, I came back to Dar es Salaam and had to work hard from scratch to resurrect my professional life. It was time to do the balancing act . Time management, setting up priorities, and tweaking my fitness regime were the mantra I discovered for myself. Self-belief and Patience were the lone mantra I relied on for the entire period. Soon things began to look up slowly...

...Over the next couple of years, I was obsessed with the burning desire to get into Cricketing gears. I spent quality time on the nets, on the field. Playing alongside the local cricket club cricket teams gave me abundant opportunities to make my mark and regain my confidence...

...The local Cricket Authorities found many reasons to include me in the top league of the National Cricket Team. I was short-listed in the twenty-five probable names to represent the National Cricket Team of Tanzania during the cricket calendar year of 2021. Since then I have been practicing relentlessly...

...After scrutinising my credentials as a top rung pace bowler, finally, my name was finally cleared to represent the Tanzania National Cricket Team by TCA, Tanzania Cricket Association in the year 2024. I was elated and delighted to learn that finally, I could realise my dream of playing Professional International Cricket...

....Our team is now scheduled to visit Malaysia to take part in the qualifying rounds of ODI, One Day International Cricket (50 overs) as stipulated by the International Cricket Council, ICC. I am eagerly looking forward to representing Tanzania and doing my best, says the starry-eyed Ramesh Alluri in conclusion.

Fortune favours the brave is an old adage. Well, going by the extraordinary journey of the 33-year-old India-born Tanzanian Cricketer Ramesh Alluri, is a millennial example of the adage.

Hindusthan Samachar/Ramarao Manjunath Chavan