By Trisha Ghosal in Indore
In the middle of World Cup buzz and packed training schedules, sometimes cricket reminds you it’s not just about the big moments under lights, but also about the quiet ones that happen far from the cameras. One such moment unfolded in Visakhapatnam this week, a story of kindness, humility, and a young cricketer’s joy.
As the Australian team prepared for their fixtures against India and Bangladesh, a young left-arm pacer from Visakhapatnam, Parthasarathi Maharana, found himself bowling to world-class batters in the nets. Just 18, fresh from a five-wicket haul in the ACA U19 Men’s Inter-Zone Tournament in Kadapa, Parthasarathi was called up as one of the local net bowlers for the Australians.
It was in those nets that Ashleigh Gardner, the Australian all-rounder known for her grit and grace, took notice. “I was going to the other ground when ma’am called me,” Parthasarathi recalled with a smile. “She said I bowled well and asked my shoe size. I told her, and she said, when I came back from the other ground, she’d give me a pair of shoes.”
True to her word, when the youngster returned after his session, Gardner handed him a pair of her spikes and wished him luck. It was a small gesture, a pair of shoes, but for Parthasarathi, it meant the world.
“I always bowl my heart out in the nets. I don’t see who I’m bowling to, I just focus on my line and length,” he said, his face lighting up. “Today was no different. And see, I got a new pair of bowling spikes!”
For most, net bowling sessions are about learning and exposure. But moments like these go beyond skill, they stay etched in memory. Gardner’s simple act of appreciation turned an ordinary practice day into a lifelong inspiration.
In a sport often defined by scoreboards and records, it’s gestures like these that remind us of cricket’s truest spirit, respect, connection, and the shared love for the game. For Parthasarathi, this wasn’t just about getting a gift; it was about validation, that effort never goes unseen.
Someday, when he laces up those spikes again, perhaps in a bigger match and under brighter lights, he will remember that afternoon in Vizag and the Australian cricketer who reminded him that dreams grow best when watered with kindness.
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