Lakshya’s wait was worth it – The Hindu

Lakshya Raichandani had been waiting for the runs.

His parents had been waiting, too. They were in the stands at the Niranjan Shah Stadium when the India under-19 captain brought up a century earlier this week.

As the boundary took him to three figures, they stood up and applauded.

The runs had not come in the first two matches against Australia, despite getting starts. India had taken control, but Lakshya wanted to finish with a contribution.

“The mindset was just to play according to the situation,” he told The Hindu.

This time, the runs came. Lakshya remained unbeaten as India completed a clean sweep. “It feels really good. And to remain unbeaten in a winning cause, there is nothing better than that in cricket. It was really good, and there wasn’t any pressure either. I enjoyed it,” he said.

Lakshya came to Uttarakhand when he was 10 and went through the under-16 and under-19 levels before playing Ranji Trophy cricket. He continues to practise there. “My family has never stopped me from doing anything. They have supported me a lot,” he added.

Perhaps that is why his parents and elder brother travelled with him to Sri Lanka earlier this year and were in Rajkot.

He is shy, more comfortable letting his cricket do the talking. He has played First Class cricket for Uttarakhand, scoring 223 runs in four outings, including three half-centuries. And on Sunday, when the multi-day series begins, he will be vice-captain, with Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan taking over as captain.

A fan of Virat Kohli and Joe Root, Lakshya is not looking too far ahead. The cameras still make him uncomfortable. But his aim is to wear the national colours at the highest level.