30 promising young cricket players have been selected for the MCA Under 14 Off Season Cricket Coaching camp this year . (Click here to see the list)
The 18th name on the list is that of Aakash Tripathi, a student of class 8B.(Aakash previously studied in Holy Family School,Carmelite Convent High School,Al Barkaat School and then joined St Augustine’s in class 7 last year.) Here are some highlights of his journey as a cricket player so far..
He joined Payyade Cricket Academy at the tender age of four and a half. In the early years he used to attend only the summer camp sessions. From the very beginning, his father encouraged him to focus on mastering the basics of cricket. His first coaches were Nitin Kini Sir and Vinod Kini Sir, who laid a strong foundation for his skills.
Other milestones on the journey in his own words ..
After three years of consistent practice, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everything, and I was unable to train for two years. However, after the pandemic, I was fortunate to receive a one-year scholarship to train at Omtex Cricket Academy. Under the guidance of bowling coach Ajit Rodrigues Sir, my bowling improved significantly.
After my time at Omtex, I returned to Payyade Cricket Academy. At the age of ten and a half, I played in the U-12 Bhaskar Trophy tournament. In the first match, I scored 36 runs and took 3 wickets. In the second match, I scored 57 runs and was awarded the Man of the Match in the first game.
That same year, I also played in the U-14 CPCC Tournament, representing Ameya Sports Academy. I took a total of 7 wickets in 2 matches. Owing to this performance, I was called for the MCA U-14 trials at Jolly Gymkhana, Ghatkopar. However, I was not selected as I was underage at the time
In the 2023–2024 season, I played in the Bhaskar Trophy again. Our team reached the finals, which were held at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. I was honoured with the Man of the Series award, which included a cash prize of ₹5000 and a kit bag.
This year in the CPCC tournament, we once again reached the finals, which were played at BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex). I had an excellent run in this tournament, taking 17 wickets overall. In the semi-final, I took a five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick.
For the last three years, I have been waking up at 4:30 a.m. every morning to follow a dedicated training routine. My new coach is Pawan Kumar Sir. I do various fitness exercises, stretching, batting, and bowling drills-as instructed by my coach. This discipline has helped me build consistency and resilience in my game.
Other awards and accolades
Due to my consistent performances, I was selected for the MCA U-14 selection matches. At the MCA U-14 Summer Camp, I took wickets in two matches, which led to my selection for the MCA U-14 Dream11 Cup. I performed well in both matches, which earned me a place in the MCA U-14 Probables, to be held at BKC.
Congratulations Aakash and we wish you all the best.
St Augustine's School 
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