Sir, only if I work hard will I play elite cricket," said Yash Dhull while describing how life changes after an U-19 World Cup win, with a heady cocktail of fame, adulation, money and hanger-ons capable of sending a young mind into a tailspin.
But on Thursday, at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, Dhull started his journey from being among the boys with a muscular hundred -- 113 off 150 balls -- against a good Tamil Nadu side on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy.
Dhull doesn't have the swagger that West Delhi's steely 18-year-old Virat Kohli had during those early conversations nor the spunk which made St Stephen's and Modern School (Barakhamba) alumnus Unmukt Chand the toast of the nation back in 2012.
With his golden ear studs, Manjot Kalra had a rock-star appearance but one look at Dhull and he would seem like a person happy to disappear in a crowd and then suddenly come out owning the stage, like it has always belonged to him.
Rahane hits century on return to Ranji, keeps himself in India contention
His Test career at stake, beleaguered India batter Ajinkya Rahane compiled a much-needed century to keep himself in India reckoning while guiding Mumbai to 263 for three against Saurashtra in their Ranji Trophy opener here on Thursday.
Choosing to bat after winning the toss, Mumbai were also boosted by Sarfaraz Khan's unbeaten 121 off 219 balls on the first day of their elite group D match. The focus was, however, firmly on Rahane who ended the day at an unbeaten 108 from 250 deliveries.
The 33-year-old Rahane, who had a mediocre Test series against South Africa in the recently concluded tour of the Rainbow Nation, got to his ton in 212 balls, hitting 14 fours and 2 sixes along the way.
Porel grabs for-four as Bengal pacers rattle Baroda
Ishan Porel was the wrecker-in-chief grabbing 4/40 as Bengal pacers shared bulk of spoils to bundle out Baroda for a paltry 181 on day one of their elite Group B Ranji Trophy fixture at the Barabati Stadium here on Thursday.
In reply, Bengal were 24/1 at stumps on day one with the two Sudips -- opener Gharami (11 batting) and one drop Chaterjee (nine batting) at the crease after skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (4) got out cheaply in the fifth over.
Put into bat, Baroda got off to a steady start with skipper Kedar Devdhar (31) surviving early on after being dismissed off an Akash Deep no-ball.
But the lanky Porel triggered the collapse in the 15th over, with his twin blows of Devdhar (23) and Pratyush Kumar (0) in the space of three balls.
On a roll, Porel picked his third in the form of Shivalik Sharma (4) in his next over to reduce Baroda to 47/3.