The Aravali Cricket Club: A Pipeline to the IPL
In the bustling city of Jaipur, a quiet revolution is taking place in a once-quiet suburb called Hathod. Here, amidst the construction sites and apartment complexes, stands a testament to the power of passion and perseverance: the Aravali Cricket Club. This facility has quietly become a pipeline, nurturing and shaping young cricket talent from Rajasthan and sending them on to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The story begins with Vivek Yadav, a former Rajasthan batter who started the academy in 2001 as a passion project. It wasn't until 2012, after consecutive Ranji Trophy triumphs and a two-season stint with the Delhi Daredevils, that Yadav had the means to give structure to his dream. But fate had other plans. When the land ran out of groundwater in 2018, the academy had to move again, finding a new home in Hathod.
This move proved to be a turning point. Over time, the facility expanded, now boasting two fully-sized cricket grounds, over a dozen nets, and hostel facilities for the 300 trainees. The core group of players, including Akash Singh, Ashok Sharma, Mukul Choudhary, and Kartik Sharma, arrived at different times but stayed for the same reason: love and care. They were drawn to the academy's commitment to nurturing young talent and providing a supportive environment.
Akash, a current member of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), was among the earliest. He progressed from the state's age-group setup to the India Under-19s and then the IPL, notably with the Chennai Super Kings' title-winning squad in 2023. Ashok, on the other hand, arrived raw and quick, with batters often pulling away because of his speed. A Red Bull Speedster competition changed his trajectory, leading to his selection by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals.
Mukul Choudhary's story is one of focus and conviction. The academy tried to make him play along the ground, but his determination to hit sixes led to a unique approach. This paid off, as he sensationally took down KKR at Eden Gardens, hitting an unbeaten 27-ball 54 to seal an incredible final-over win for LSG. Kartik's journey is also noteworthy. Dropped from the age-group setup for two seasons, he arrived at Aravali in 2021 and immediately made an impact, scoring a double-hundred in his first game.
The Aravali Cricket Club's success lies in its unique approach. Vivek's philosophy emphasized the need for players from this region to work harder than most to be noticed, given the broken system and administrative issues in Rajasthan. Vikas, Vivek's younger brother, has maintained this philosophy, focusing on age-groups and providing a supportive environment. The academy has expanded, attracting players from Odisha and even Nepal, but growth has brought its own pressures, including water, space, and expectations.
The four IPL players are still just bhaiyya (brothers) within the club. They share flats, hand out match tickets to younger kids, and remain part of the same ecosystem that shaped them. Vikas hopes to continue the pipeline, with Kartik's younger brother, Anmol Sharma, also making his way through the age-groups in Rajasthan. The story of Aravali circles back to Hathod, where the tin-roofed rooms, shared flats, and long days in the harsh Rajasthan summer are a testament to the club's dedication and the players' perseverance.
As the Aravali Cricket Club continues to nurture young talent, it serves as a reminder that passion, perseverance, and a supportive environment can create a pipeline to success, even in the highly competitive world of cricket.
