Scoring a maiden century at any level of the game is always something to cherish. When a 14-year-old achieves this in the genteel surroundings of England it is even more memorable.
DPS Sharjah student Dhruva Praveen attained this milestone against Thatcham Town in Berkshire during Sharjah Cricket Academy’s summer tour of the United Kingdom. The disappointment of a narrow two-loss was offset when Dhruva completed a deserving unbeaten ton having come in at one drop.
“It was a good feeling to get a hundred for the first time,” Dhruva told Emirates 24|7. “When the first wicket fell my coaches told me to just stay there.”
He shouldered the responsibility of shielding his partners with a mature knock and piled on the runs in tricky conditions stroking 12 fours and a six. “Although it was summer over there it was a bit cold at 15 degrees,” said Dhruva who was on his maiden tour of the UK.
He led the touring Sharjah Academy side to a thrilling one-run victory against Spencer Club earlier by cracking 51 which contained eight fours and a six.
There was little doubt Dhruva Praveen had been oozing with talent ever since he was old enough to hold a bat. “He developed a natural grip and stance when he was just three,” said his mother Veni Praveen a renowned cricketer herself having captained Kerala State. A wicket keeper opening batsman, she is a regular member of the UAE senior women’s cricket team having taken part in two Asian tournaments in 2007 and 2009.
Dhruva first started taking coaching lessons when he was six and thereafter took part regularly in the under-10 competitions held in Chennai. “I never coached him but always guided him,” said Veni when asked about her role in fashioning the cricket career of her only child. Dhruva certainly has cricket in his genes with his father Praveen Pillai having played at club level.
It was the lack of opportunities which was suppressing the precociously talented cricketer from expressing himself. “I had a doubt whether he could continue playing cricket when we came to the UAE in 2005,” she said.
Dhruva was not one to give up easily and first began taking private lessons from Jeyaraj Thakur and later from M. Nawaz at Emirates Cricket Training, since there was no cricket at Our Own English School.
It was when he joined DPS Sharjah that his career took off especially after coming under the wing of Vikram Dutt. “It was a big opening in my career to represent the school,” said Dhruva who went on a tour of Ahmedabad last year.
“It was Vikram Dutt who gave him the opportunities and allowed his talent to blossom,” said Veni also expressing her gratitude to DPS for providing him with the exposure.
Dhruva who also plays basketball and football, displayed his versatility by qualifying to represent the school in the 800 metres event at the CBSE National Athletic Championship held in Jaipur last year. However, cricket is his passion and first love, with India’s iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar being his hero.
“I want to play for India,” he said with conviction when asked about his ambitions as a cricketer having already represented Trivandrum District under 14 team. He plans to relocate after completing his 10th grade because “there is more scope” to pursue his cricket career. Describing himself as an “above average” student, his aim is to become a pilot.
“We are allowing him to focus on cricket but he cannot ignore studies. There has to be a balance because education is equally important,” said Veni who is hoping that her son would be one day be able to represent the country.