Ladysmith KZN – Many youngsters of today love soccer and worship players like Ronaldo and Messi, but local lad Akhil Kaloo loves cricket and looks up to Virat Kohli.
Akhil, who is just 12 years old and in Grade 7 at Monument Primary School, is known to ‘hit the opposition for a six’ on the cricket pitch. He has been playing the sport for nine years already and says he loves the game. He is always looking for ways to get out on the field or just hit a ball at home.
To his credit, Akhil is an all-rounder, which means he is proficient at batting and bowling.
He is a fast bowler and bats at number 4, which is a crucial batting position, as this person is there to anchor the innings and make big runs for his team.
His role model in the game is Indian captain Virat Kohli and you guessed it, his favourite team is India. In the future, Akhil sees himself taking his cricketing career from strength to strength and wants to excel in the sport when he goes to college.
He is always keen to be part of practice sessions and receives private coaching to help keep his game on track.
So far, his highest score is 52 and his best bowling figures are four wickets for just 25 runs in the very same 20-over match. He plays cricket not just for his school but also for the K&L club in Ladysmith. He made the Northern Natal team and the Ladysmith team in 2019 at school level.
He one day hopes to play in India, after watching many international games live in the country.
Speaking to Akhil about the Covid-19 lockdown and how it affected him with regards to sport, he says it was “very bad and I didn’t get a chance to play at all.”
On the upside, every day when his father got home from work, they always managed to hit a few balls around the yard. His mother says with a smile that a few windows were broken in the process.
