Sudhakar Rai is an experienced cricket administrator and he has taken charge as the Convener, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Mysuru Zone. Sudhakar, along with Chairman Harikrishna Kumar, have successfully conducted BCCI one-day U-23 men’s Plate ‘A’ tournament in Mysuru Zone in three grounds for a fortnight in which hosts  Karnataka, Vidarbha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh teams took part.

  Star of Mysore spoke to Sudhakar Rai and asked him about the work done and about the future plans for development of Mysuru Zone cricket. Excerpts:

SOM: Your plans for Mysuru Zone cricket.

Sudhakar Rai:  My intention is to improve the overall quality of the game by conducting league matches of 2020-season on time. I also intend to spot fresh talents and provide them an opportunity to play under the supervision of experienced coaches. My experience of having donned the role of Chairman of KSCA Mysuru Zone for six years (from 2013 to 2019), and as the Secretary of Karavali Cricketers, has helped me get to know more about the game and also work for cricket here.

I worked as part of the team along with S. Balachander, who was the Convener of Mysuru Zone for two previous terms, and had the experience of being part of the team which conducted Ranji Trophy matches every year in Mysuru. Our team also conducted several BCCI-allotted first-class matches in the U-16, U-19, U-23 categories and All India Invitation tournament successfully. We also conducted KPL every year and hosted the India ‘A’ vs. South Africa ‘A’ unofficial Test Match at SDNR Wadiyar Grounds successfully. We would like to take all the Secretaries of affiliated clubs of Mysuru zone, players, senior players and administrators into confidence and conduct the zone activities successfully.

SOM:  Your views on the talent in Mysore zone and how it is developed.

Sudhakar Rai: Mysuru Zone has abundant talent and it has been producing talented cricketers from all levels who have gone on to represent the State from time to time. Talent-spotting is part and parcel of the activities every year.

Mysuru zone conducts annual summer camp every year with selection in different centres like Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, K.R. Nagar, and Kollegal where talented cricketers are given specialised coaching for a month.

Players are selected for KSCA Academy after Inter-District matches. The KSCA Academy has been grooming skills and helping them improve their overall game. The KSCA had availed the services of Chief Coach M.S. Ravindra, coaches A.K. Raghu, Deepak Gowda, K.R. Pawan and have gone on to produce talented cricketers who have represented Karnataka.

The Senior selection Committee headed by chairman M.S. Ravindra with co-selectors, U.H. Guruprasad, G.V. Ravi and Deepak Srinivasan along with the Junior selection committee headed by Chairman C.K. Muralidharan and co-selectors Sudharshan Babu, A. Venkateshwara, K. Naveen Kumar and B.T. Narasimha Murthy during the last six years have done a commendable job and KSCA Mysore zone has fared well in the Inter-zonal tournaments and many players have gone on to represent the State.

SOM: Will first class matches be staged in Mysuru in 2019-20 season?

Sudhakar Rai: Mysuru Zone, after Bengaluru, has become a very important cricket centre. Mysuru Zone this year has been allotted quite a few first class matches. We begin the season with the Ranji Trophy match with Karnataka vs. Himachal Pradesh, to be conducted at SDNR Wadiyar Grounds from 25 to 29th December 2019. Next, Mysuru will be hosting the Col. C.K. Nayadu Trophy for U-19 match involving Karnataka from 18-21 January 2020. Mysuru will also host the Karnataka vs. UP U-23 match from January 29 to February 1 2020.

SOM: Your views on the Mysuru Zone’s contribution to the State team.

Sudhakar Rai: Mysuru Zone has always been contributing and producing quality players from time to time and they have gone on to represent the state in different levels. In the recent six years, we have players like M.B. Darshan (State U-25, U-23 & U-19), Vishnu Priyan (State U-23, U-19), S.J. Nikin Jose (U-14, U-16, U-19, U-23, NCA camp), Venkatesh A.M. (India U-19 Challenger trophy, U-19, U-23 state, NCA & MRF Pace Academy), K. Shashank (IDBI Pace Academy, State U-19 & U-23) Kishan S Bedare (State U-23, U-16), Gautham Sagar (State U-19, NCA), Dheemanth (State U-23, U-19),  Kruthik Krishna (India U-19, State U-19, U-16, U-14, NCA), Uttam Gowda (State U-19), Chethan ( State U-19), Satvik Shamanur ( State U-16, NCA), L.R. Kumar (State U-16, U-19, NCA), Lankesh (State U-19), Utham Aiyappa (State U-16), Abhinoab Jacob (State U-16), Gourav (State U-19) and Abhay Rangan (State U-16).

In the women’s section, there are Rakshitha Krishnappa (State women’s team and T20 captain), Shubha Sathish (State U-23 team & T20 team vice-captain) and Soundarya (State U-16).

SOM: Your plans on development of Infrastructure?

Sudhakar Rai: KSCA has bigger plans of owning their own ground in Mysore. KSCA has approached Mysore Urban Development Authority and they have also earmarked land to be allotted for KSCA for constructing a full-fledged stadium and it is under approval stage with the State Government.

If the same is allotted, a modern stadium will come up in Mysuru city which will be of international standards and Mysuru will get an opportunity to host bigger matches.

Presently we have SDNR Wadiyar Platinum Jubilee University Grounds, and the same is being maintained and developed by KSCA as one of the best cricketing grounds in the country.  Matches are also played in turf wickets at JSS-SJCE Grounds and PET Grounds, Mandya. Matches are also conducted in matting at Maharaja’s College Grounds, Gangothri Grounds, MIT Grounds, Vidya Vikas College Grounds and NIE IT Grounds. Matches are also played at K.R. Nagar District Stadium.

Practice wickets for Mysuru Zone-affiliated clubs have been provided at the SDNR Wadiyar Grounds and JSS-SJCE Grounds for use regularly. We intend to improve playing ground conditions. We are identifying new grounds like Railway Workshop Grounds, BEML Cricket Ground and Village Hostel Grounds. We also intend to promote women’s cricket in a big way.

SOM:  Your future plans for tournaments and league matches.

Sudhakar Rai: We aim to conduct KSCA Mysuru Zone League 2020 on time and provide opportunities for players to get proper match practice before the zonal selections and Inter-zonal tournaments. Summer camps will be conducted to identify talent. KSCA Academy will be run professionally under the supervision of experienced coaches. We have been conducting regular umpire clinics and lectures to enhance knowledge and standard of umpiring. We intend to conduct many more lectures and seminars.