Youngsters eye top slot.

[rkt.india]

Jamshedpur, June 9: Recent performances by big hitter Saurabh Tiwary may have catapulted him to the top but others of his ilk are not very far behind. Like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, TiwaryÃÔ rise seems to have had a similar impact on some budding cricketers in Jharkhand who have in them to reach the higher echelons of the game. The likes of seamers Rahul Shukla and Varun Aaron as well as batsman Ishank Jaggi carry the required spark to excel at the top level. A bit of luck and performances in the ensuing domestic calendar may well push them on the path of Dhoni and Tiwary. Adequate support from the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) to these youngsters can be termed as a step in the right direction. Ÿe have very high hopes on these cricketers. They are a bundle of talent, which needs to be taken care of properly. And we are doing just that, said Rajesh Verma, the JSCA secretary. According to him, with limited infrastructure they have been doing their best to promote state cricketers. űresence of two cricketers in Team India is a testimony that we are moving right, he said, indicating that Shukla, Varun and Jaggi were on the threshold of rising to the top. Concerned with the nagging back injury suffered by the two midway into the last season, the JSCA wasted little time in sending Rahul and Aaron to the NCA. ŵhe back injury is okay now. The physio has told me not to go flat out in the nets, Shukla told The Telegraph over phone from Chennai. Having already represented Jharkhand in four first class matches (11 wickets), Shukla is eyeing the Champions Trophy in South Africa, where he expects to play for Mumbai Indians. Aaron echoed his Ranji partner Rahul, saying that his injury had almost healed. ŵhanks to NCA trainer Paul Chapman and physio Paul Close, IÃ×e been able to make some rapid progress, Aaron said from Bangalore. The 21-year-old seamer has not looked back since he made his first class debut against Jammu and Kashmir in 2008. Poor form in the last season may have shifted focus from 21-year-old Jaggi, but the youngster has shown ominous form with a fine century in Cuttack recently. The right-hander has been able to make an impression with his talent. Jaggi has already played for East Zone and was part of the Indian under-19 in last yearÃÔ Emerging Players tournament in Australia. HeÃÔ already turned out in nine first class matches for Jharkhand. Jaggi made his Ranji debut versus Jammu and Kashmir in November 2008. He has also led the state colt outfit and is one of the known faces at the NCA. Ÿe also have other talented cricketers who are progressing well. We donÃÕ have dearth of talent. Opinion that Jharkhand cannot produce cricketers is now a passe. Dhoni and Tiwary have proved this myth wrong. Others would also follow suit in the years to come, said Verma, a former Bihar Ranji player.

This is an old article, posted just to have a read.