KARNATAKA :

Success has not come easy for Mohammed Taha. The 22-year-old says he is willing to meet challenges head on

At the recently-concluded Karnataka Premier League (KPL), Hubli Tigers batsman Mohammed Taha emerged as the crowd favourite. The opener regularly cleared the ropes in an exhibition of clean hitting, all from an upright, high bat-lift stance.

Taha smashed a total of 20 sixes in nine matches, and finished as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. The 22-year-old seemed to get into launch position a tad quicker than most other batsmen on view, and stayed balanced when he swung the willow through the line. Success, however, has not come easy. “My dad passed away in October last year.

He was a timber merchant. After he died, I have had to provide for my mother and sister, while trying to focus on my cricket. It has been difficult, but I’m ready to face the challenge,” he says.

The Jain University B.Com. graduate caught a break when he was hired as a part-time coach at Karnataka Institute of Cricket (KIOC). “After my dad died, Irfan Sait sir (KIOC Director) gave me a coaching job. This was very helpful as I was able to earn some extra money to take care of my family,” he explains.

Taha, who studied in Tunbridge High School (Infantry Road), began his cricket journey at the age of 16. “It was my father who brought me to KIOC and signed me up for camp. I hadn’t played any form of cricket before that,” he states.

He started as an off-spinner, who could contribute in the lower middle-order. Taha got a chance to bowl in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) nets in 2012. This stint, where he bowled to the likes of Chris Gayle, A.B. de Villiers and Virat Kohli, caught the attention of the State selectors. “(Former India all-rounder) Vijay Bharadwaj was the RCB assistant coach. He noticed me during nets and recommended my name for the Karnataka under-19 team. I played primarily as a spinner, and batted at No. 7,” Taha says.

Taha received a promotion to the top of the order in the 2014 edition of the KPL. His Hubli Tigers teammate and State wicketkeeper-batsman C.M. Gautam made the decision. “Gautam and I both played for first division club Jawans CC, so he knew that I could bat,” he says.

Earlier this year, his transition to opening batsman was complete when he was picked for the Karnataka squad that competed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) tournament. Taha featured in four matches, and made 86 runs (highest score 45, against Uttar Pradesh). As for his unorthodox style, he says, “My technique came about naturally.

I just try to watch the ball closely.” Taha hopes to feature regularly for the State team in 50-over and Twenty20 tournaments. “I would also love to play in the Indian Premier League, but I don’t want to look too far ahead.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Hom e> Metroplus / by Ashwin Achal / October 18th, 2016