Raised among doctors and professors, Aman Mokhade leads Vidarbha to Vijay Hazare glory | Exclusive

NEW DELHI: “Meeting Virat bhaiya and Dhoni sir completely changed my approach to the game,” an elated Aman Mokhade said while packing his bags after Vidarbha clinched their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title, defeating Saurashtra in the final on Sunday in Bengaluru.

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Along with lifting the trophy, Mokhade’s blistering run with the bat saw him etch his name into the record books. He became only the third cricketer in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy to score 800 runs in a single season. Mokhade joined an elite list featuring Prithvi Shaw and Narayan Jagadeesan, both of whom had previously breached the 800-run mark in the tournament. He finished the season with 814 runs from 10 matches at an average of 90.44, including five centuries, to end as the highest run-getter of the competition.




Mokhade said he was grateful to have spent time with legends Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, experiences he believes played a key role in shaping his mindset.

It was in 2015, when India played a Test match against South Africa in Nagpur, that Mokhade got the opportunity to bowl to Virat Kohli in the nets ahead of the game. He found himself in a similar situation again in 2017, bowling to MS Dhoni during India’s net session before an ODI against Australia in Nagpur.

“I was grateful to have shared those moments with the legends of the game. I bowled to Virat in 2015 and to Dhoni in 2017. I am a proper batter, but I was given the responsibility to bowl to them. I spoke to both of them briefly and learned a lot. Watching them closely — their footwork, eye contact, body language and overall approach — completely changed the way I look at the game,” Mokhade told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.


“Every kid has that dream. Even while they are just knocking or shadow-practising, there is so much to learn from them. Every youngster dreams of meeting them or interacting with them, and I’m grateful to have experienced that. The composure and calmness in my batting today come from watching them. I feel fortunate to have been born in the eras of Dhoni and Kohli,” he said.

“Winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Vidarbha is the biggest feeling for me. Hopefully, we win many more trophies for Vidarbha. The road ahead looks very competitive, but we have immense belief in our team. The journey from here promises to be an exciting one,” he added.

'FAMILY OF DOCTORS AND PROFESSORS'
Mokhade comes from a family of doctors and professors, and the pressure to pursue academics was always present. However, it was his father who pushed him towards cricket, driven by an unfulfilled dream. Aman’s father, Ravindra Mokhade, had always aspired to become a cricketer, but financial constraints meant the dream remained unrealised.

One day, Ravindra saw his son Aman striking a ball with a plastic bat in the backyard of their home. In that moment, he saw his own unfulfilled dream reflected in his son — a sight that would go on to shape Aman's journey.

“My father supported me a lot and always saw that dream in me. He is extremely proud of what I’ve achieved. My aunts are doctors, my uncle is a professor, and my father did his MBA and works as a project manager. There was academic pressure on me, but my father always pushed me to go to the ground and play cricket. His support has been immense, and whatever I am today is because of him,” the 25-year-old said.

After finishing as the highest run-getter in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Mokhade has sent a clear message to the selectors with his performances — a loud and clear “knock, knock… I’m also in the queue.”

“I just want to live in the present and keep performing for my team. That approach usually works for me because when I think too far ahead, things don’t always fall into place. I want to play every game with the same intensity, do what I do best, and focus on winning that match. That’s the thought process I want to follow,” he said.

Mokhade also expressed his gratitude towards his coaches for his success in the career so far.

“I am grateful to have had good coaches in my career. Umesh Patwal sir has been there, and so has Jwala sir. I met Jwala sir a couple of years ago, and he has supported me a lot. He has provided all the facilities a cricketer should get — a decent ground, proper equipment, and more,” he concluded.


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