Another Ricky Ponting in the making?

Vizag lad selected to the India Under-19 team to tour Australia

Samuel Tatikonda

Visakhapatnam : Will Vizag's Ricky Bhui be India's answer to Australia's Ricky Ponting? It seems very much so looking at the consistency with which this young lad is faring in domestic cricket. If success doesn't get into his head, this guy is sure going to go places. Only time will tell how this Vizag lad will cash in on the opportunities that come his way.

Ricky Bhui, born in Bhopal, is selected to the India Under-19 team to tour Australia from June 28. He is now training at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. "He has tremendous talent and he hits the ball from the middle of the bat. His reflexes are quick," said Raghuram Boorada, Ricky's first cricket coach.

Speaking exclusively to The Hans India from California, Raghuram said, "Ricky's dedication to the game was total and was never involved in other issues. Out of the 100 catches he takes every day, we saw him drop 1 or 2 in a week. That was amazing."

Raghuram was Ricky's coach from age seven and coached him for five years and went on to take up coaching assignments in California. Ricky's father Kanak Kumar Bhui and mother Rita Bhui are a contented lot. "God favoured my son for his dedication and hard work. He was willing to sacrifice anything for cricket." His mother Rita says with a grin on her face, "I used to feel sad for my son. Whether it is rain or shine he used to spend hours together in the field. Now I feel proud."

"In 10th class he was a topper and we didn't know which way to go--cricket or academics. Ricky chose to take to the field and we supported him," says his father. He thanked the ACA, VDCA office-bearers and the director Andhra Cricket operations MSK Prasad. Ricky played for the State right from his eleventh year--Under-13, Under-16, Under-19, Under-22 and Under-25 and has many centuries and double centuries to his credit.