If I work hard, I too can get where Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul are now, says Rohan Kadam
Rohan Kadam, a 25-year-old batsman from Karnataka, has said that he continues to believe that with hard work, he too can scale the heights of Indian cricket like his statemates Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul. Kadam has been an integral part of Karnataka’s T20 and One-Dayer triumphs.
For a while now, the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament has been a happy hunting ground for IPL talent scouts. However, leading his team to last year’s domestic T20 title with 536 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 129.78 seemingly did nothing for Kadam’s hopes for an IPL deal and the big life that followed. In fact, it had him worried if he was ever good enough, although the 25-year-old admits that it had nothing to do with money.
"I have a comfortable life, so it's not the money. It's about the opportunities and trying to get better at what I do, be it the Ranji Trophy or IPL. I've seen guys like Mayank and KL struggle and get to where they are today. I know if I work hard, I too can get there," Kadam told ESPNCricinfo.
Eight months on from that title-winning campaign, things are finally looking up for Kadam. From winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy with Karnataka to eyeing a second straight title in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the scouts have slowly begun to take notice. Although he managed to secure a trial invitation from defending champions Mumbai Indians, Kadam turned it down and opted to turn for his state team.
"I was called to their trials in Navi Mumbai a day before the Vijay Hazare knockouts, so I didn't go. I thought to myself, a chance to win a tournament for your team will be the best advertisement. So it didn't take me long to decide to say it wouldn't be possible [for me to show up at the trials].
"Because I would've possibly returned from the trials and taken the field next day without much rest. And it's possible my mind would have wandered to it. Now, I don't even know if the trials were held or not, because I let it go and focused on Karnataka and even won the 50-over trophy," he said.
In the match that followed — against Mumbai — Karnataka was reeling at 19 for three when Kadam walked out and counter-attacked his way to 71 off 47 balls.