User:Wikipushkarsharma/sandbox/pushkar sharma

Pushkar Sharma; born (12Oct2000) is an Kenyan cricketer and the current captain of the Ruaraka Sports Club (Kenya). Pushkar is regarded as one of the best opener batsmen. Left-handed Pushkar has been a consistent player always giving good starts in whichever tournament he plays.

He was awarded as a Best Batsman in Ghost Trophy, which led him in Under-16 “Vijay Merchant Trophy”in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), He has scored Fifty against Gujarat in his debut. He scored highest of 261 runsin the year 2012-13 against B A K Swadhyaya Bhawan (Matunga) in the Giles Shield. He represented at several district, nationalcompetitions, including the prestigious Giles and Harris Shields, one of the oldest school cricket tournaments in India. Sharma was also selected in the camp for Mumbai Under-14&Under-19.

He was also the member of Popular U-16 “Coca-Cola Cricket Cup” where his team finished Runner-Up at all India Level. Pushkar is a very promising batsman when he was playing for “Indiafirst Life Insurance Company”, he was awarded as a “Best Batsman” for the year 2018-19.Pushkar scored an unbeatable 116* runs smashing 8 Boundaries and 6 Sixes against John Bright Cricket Club in one of the famous “Kanga League” in 2018, Pushkar became the highest scorer with 227 runs for C division.

Pushkar Sharma skipper of the “Shivaji Park Youngsters Club” (SPY) has made the “Cosmopolitan Shield 2018-19 his own - either batting or bowling, or most of the times, performing in both, during the chase. Pushkar cruised to 87* runs with 5 Boundaries and 2 sixes against John Bright Cricket Club. In match against Bandra Gymkhana Pushkar Sharma justified in his own decision by breaking the backbone of Bandra gymkhana Batsmen’s with an impressive spell of swing bowling coming up with bowling figure in 9 overs he has taken 4 wickets, while chasing Pushkar Opening the innings came out and blasted a magnificent unbeaten 90* off just 49 balls that consisted of 9 Boundaries and 5 sixes.

Early and Personal Life:
Pushkar Sharma was born on 12October2000 in Jalgaon, Maharashtra into a Brahmin Hindu family. His father, Shiv Kumar Sharma, worked in a Private sector and his mother, Sushma Sharma, is a housewife. He has two elder sister Jyoti, Nidhi. According to his family, when he was five years old, he told his father he wants to play cricket.Seeing his interest in cricket Pushkar’s father shifted to Greater Noida with family.

He started cricket from YMCA Cricket Club, coached by Subhash Chaudhary and Jagat Kishore at YMCA Academy. Jagat Kishore said that the talent in Pushkar was there from the beginning and we also knew that he will definitely play ahead in the coming time and will illuminate the name of his family along with us. Pushkar left Greater Noida at an early age. Pushkar’s father left Mumbai without delay so that Pushkar could play cricket as well as focus on studies from there, as Pushkar’s father knew that school cricket is promoted in Mumbai. Pushkar lived with his uncle in Mumbai, who brought him along to Azad Maidan and took him along, then Pushkar started from the Albarkaat school, where he gave tremendous performance on the strength of the Mumbai U-16. He was made captain, which included the Indian team opener Prithvi Shaw and Pushkar played a brilliant 61-run knock against Gujarat in 175 balls with the help of 9 fours in the debut match innings, when he played in Mumbai. The home ground had lost 5 wickets for 50 runs and Pushkar scored the highest score of 61 from the Mumbai team, leading the team to a respectable score of 210.

Pushkar captained with the U-16 as well as selected for Mumbai Camp U-19. But during that time there happened an incident in his life that caused him to quit cricket. His father was diagnosed with cancer, later he died. When Pushkar stopped playing cricket, his mother Sushma Sharma explained and asked him to go on the ground and make his late father proud. Pushkar then started without delay. While focusing on cricket he realized how he is going to resolve the financial crisis but when God closes one door he opens other doors of happiness and hope. Pushkar was then supported by IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company, Pushkar got to play as well as to work, seeing his ability, he got a Phone Manager’s job immediately.

School Cricket
After shifting to Mumbai. He was enrolled in AlBarkaat MalikMohd. Islam English school, one of the famous schools in Mumbai’s school cricket. Being the student and players of Albarkaat school, he represented in many district, state and national level tournaments including prestigious Giles and Harris Shields, one of the oldest School Cricket Tournament in India.Mumbai's Al Barkaat Malik MI English school against Sports Campus College, Lucknow (UP), by one run win in the Coca-Cola Under-16 Cricket Cup Inter State tournament here Pushkar Sharma was blazing away and carried his bat through the Innings scoring 77 runs in 92 balls with 7 Boundaries. His personal highest score of 261 runs also came in Giles Shield against B A K Swadhaya Bhawan (Matunga) in the year 2012-13. He was also the member of famous U-16 Coca Cola Cricket Cup where his team finished Runner’s up at all India Level.

Batting Style

Pushkar is a naturally aggressive batsman with strong skills. He usually bats at the open in ODI,T20 and Test cricket He bats with a slightly open-chested stance and is said to have quick footwork. He is known for big shots, ability to pace an innings and batting under pressure, He is strong through the mid-wicket and square leg region. He has said that the Flick is his favorite shot, while also saying that the flick shot comes naturally to him. He does not play the Mid On Drive often, being called "not a natural sweeper of the cricket ball. His teammates have praised his confidence, commitment, focus and work ethics, Sharma is also known to be a "Key Player. Pushkar is regarded as the best T20 batsmen in the Corporate Tournaments, especially while chasing. Pushkar has said "I love the whole situation that comes with chasing. I like the challenges, figuring out how to rotate strike, when to hit a boundary or Six”.

Sharma is often compared to Gautam Gambhir, due to their similar styles of batting, and sometimes referred to as Gambhir’s "successor. Pushkar has stated that growing up his idol and role model was Gautam Gambhir and that as a kid he "tried to copy the shots (Gambhir) played and hit sixes the way he used to hit them.

Club Cricket:
In the year 2014-2015 Pushkar Sharma joined Mumbai U-16 as the captaincy of the side started by names like Prithvi Shaw, Bhupen Lalwani. And also scored a fifty against Gujarat.Pushkar looks promising with 3 back-to-back fifties in the Under-19 Naren Tamhane Tournament where he scored a blazing 67 runs off 36 balls with 8 Boundaries and 4 sixes. Pushkar continued his good scoring 69 runs off 89 balls with 7 Boundaries against Ordinance factory Ambernath after that, followed his 3rdback-to-back fifty and this time it was in semifinal where Pushkar, scoring a sublime 61 runs in 70 balls.

This player looks really promising and lends stability at the top order making him a player to lookout for in the upcoming Tournaments. Pushkar Sharma has also represented different cricket clubs of Mumbai and captained the same on many teams.The list comprises Shivaji Park Youngsters (B division), Juhu Gymkhana (B division), and Bohra Cricketers (D division). He also played different knocks club-level Tournaments comprising the popular Dr. HD Kanga league. He has scored 116* runs against John bright Cricket Club of Mumbai in Kanga league season 2018. However, the Kanga league tournament is not very favorable for batsmen he was succeeded to play different good knocks comprising a century and half-century at different divisions. In the Cricket tour, he shared the dressing room with players like Arjun Tendulkar (S/O Sachin Tendulkar), Prithvi Shaw (Team India, Delhi Capitals), Yashasvi Jaiswal (India’s U-19, Rajasthan Royals), Agni Chopra, and more Ranji,National and Domestic level Cricketers.

JOURNEY FROM INDIA TO KENYA

Pushkar’s coach Digambar shared with him an opportunity to play in one of the famous cricket League of Africa, for which he had to be away from the company for a month. But it was almost impossible to take a month’s leave for Pushkar.

Then he decided to speak with his Head of the Department, R Shankar. The latter was very supportive, and thus presented the case before the (Chief People Officer) Praveen Menon, who in turn was very considerate to allow to carry on. Doing justice to his Talent and the expectations of his supporters, Pushkar slammed three half centuries in Four matches. Impressed by his ability& talent, the Chairman of Ruaraka Sports Club and CEO of the Hirani Telecommunications Limited, Mansukh Hirani offered him to stay in Africa and play for his Company and Club. What’s more, the contract also mentioned about the opportunity to represent Kenya International Team.

After coming back to India, Pushkar put forward this opportunity in front of his respected seniors at Indiafirst and his Family for their guidance. Looking at bright prospects for one of its employees, the organization and Pushkar’s family happily released him.

Pushkar Sharma today is working as a Marketing Manager at Hirani Telecommunications Limited in Kenya. He stated in an interview with Cricketgraph that if every sportsman got support from their organization like he got from Indiafirst, they would definitely achieve in their careers.He wants to play a Test match for his country, it will be very difficult in India, so he plays in the National team of Kenya so that he can come and play in IPL India and then he can open his way from tests and others, but Pushkar is working day and night in Kenya to fulfill his dream.

Corporate Cricket
Pushkar told that when he was working in IndiaFirst Life Insurance, his reporting manager was Ramana, although he has also played cricket from Andhra Pradesh, Ramana and IndiaFirst team captain Ajish Rehman cheered on him and showed a lot of support and then Pushkar did not break his promise by scoring 768 and also won the Best Batsman of the Year and this award (Chief People Officer) Praveen Menon awarded Pushkar,  Pushkar also scored highest 83 * for IndiaFirst.

He worked for one year and two months in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company and also played different corporate-level tournaments for the same. In 2018-19 he was awarded as the Best Batsman of the year for his outstanding playing at the corporate level.Indiafirst life insurance faced 3rd league match of the Corporate Tournament Cricket Shield 2018-19, Pushkar Sharma got his team to a quickfire start scoring 66* in just 27 balls, the knock consists of 6 nicely Sixes and 3 Boundaries.While working just a few months, keeping in mind the talent of Pushkar Sharma, his old mentor Digambar sir gave him the opportunity to play in a famous Kenyan cricket competition, for which he had to travel to Africa for a month. But it was an impossible thing for Pushkar Sharma to take a month's leave in a private company. When the matter was put in front of the company's (Chief People Officer) Praveen Menon, he arranged for him to go to Africa within a short period of time. Pushkar Sharma also stood up to Praveen Menon's expectations with his talent by scoring three fifties in four matches in Nairobi.

Mansukh Hirani who is a CEO of Ruaraka Sports Club and Hirani Telecommunications Limited recognizing his ability and talent. Mansukh Hirani expressed his desire for Pushkar to play in his company, then he came to Mumbai and consulted with all the senior people of IndiaFirst and in front of his family, then everyone said that it is very good for his career.Everyoneshowed a sense of belonging by allowinghim to leave and today he is working as a MarketingManager at Hirani Telecommunication Limited located in Nairobi, Kenya. Pushkar gives full credit for this journey to his well-wishers.After that, he went to Kenya and Started Playing for the Ruaraka sports club.

Pushkar has been in brilliant form since the last few months. He scored an unbridled 167 very recently for Raurka Sports club in the Nairobi Provincial Cricket tournament. Pushkar is also the highest rungetter of Nairobi Provinsial Cricket Association with 442 runs from 7 innings so far. He averaged 73.67 with a strike rate of 103.27. Pushkar is also set to make a mark in the ongoing season of Nairobi Premier League which is featuring cricketers like Christopher Mpofu, Elton Chigumbura and others.

He recently scored 577 runs in just 8 games for Ruaraka Sports club at a batting average of 96.17. Contextually, Pushkar scored a brilliant 135 (not out) against Swamibapa Sports Club on 19th September 2021. The Indian-born scored the century at a strike rate of 97.83. However, the inning was special for the young star, as wickets were falling from opposite ends in a regular interval. His mental toughness is unimaginable and he knows how to build partnership at the time of pressure. He glued 108 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket stand.

AWARDS
These Awards will show you about why Pushkar is so success.

* Pushkar was awarded as a Best Batsman of the tournament for Mumbai Under-14 in State Level Organized by Government of Maharashtra in 2013-14

* Pushkar was awarded as a Best Batsman of the tournament for Mumbai Under-17 in State Level Organized by Government of Maharashtra in 2014-15.

* Pushkar Sharma was also selected for National Level for Maharashtra organized by Government of Maharashtra in 2015.

* Pushkar was awarded as a Best Batsman of the tournament for Ghost Trophy Organized by Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) in year 2016.

* Pushkar Sharma was awarded as a Best Batsman of the year 2018-19 for Indiafirst Life Insurance.

* Pushkar was awarded as a Best Batsman of the tournament in Blue Storm F15 Trophy in 2019.

* Pushkar was awared as Man of the Match in live match against Bhopal.