G. Ajitesh has made his name in T20 cricket. He has played T20s for Tamil Nadu, and had a breakout TNPL season in 2023.

So, for someone who’s trying to earn his reputation in red-ball cricket, his maiden Buchi Babu hundred (101), for TNCA President’s XI in the semifinal against Jammu & Kashmir here on Monday, comes as a confidence booster.

“This is my third Buchi Babu tournament. So, it (the ton) boosts my confidence. That too, coming in a semifinal, it’s a very big thing.

“I was focusing on my red-ball cricket for the past two years. I wanted to get better in the red-ball format as well. I hope to make my (First-Class) debut for Tamil Nadu,” he said at the CSK High Performance Centre here.

The 22-year-old, who’s played in the TNCA first division league for four years now, feels that this year he’s a lot more improved with lessons from the previous three years.

“Obviously, having played for three years, I feel I’ve learned the formula to score hundreds — how to carry forward and keep going, how to build your innings. I was working on my defence to make it strong,” he said.

Besides confidence, he’s also had this as his takeaway from his knock on Monday: “Take your time. There’s a lot of time than you think there is.”

The 18-year-old Ambrish, who toured England with the India u-19 side in June and July, said he learned “what to do in different situations.”

The all-rounder attended a specialised camp for pacers at the NCA earlier this year.

“Troy Cooley and V.R.V. Singh were there. I play a lot of One-Dayers now. I was of the idea that bouncers and slower ones would be the most effective at the Death. But they asked me to and made me work on my yorkers,” he said.

When arguably one of the game’s finest openers is following your progress, stays in touch and sends a text saying, “Perfect. Very good job!” — you know you’ve done something right.

Maharashtra’s Arshin Kulkarni, playing in the Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai, earned that exact compliment from his Lucknow Super Giants coach, Justin Langer, after a stunning performance.

The 20-year-old from Solapur scored a sensational 146 in the first innings and followed it up with a composed 69 in the second, guiding Maharashtra to a comprehensive win over Himachal Pradesh.

In an exclusive chat with The Hindu, Arshin reflected on the knock, his time with LSG during the IPL, and his rapport with Langer.

“Firstly, I’m pleased I could contribute to my team. I’ve been to Chennai before, during the IPL and trained here. The wicket was excellent — it felt really good to bat on”, Arshin said.

Recollecting the moment he was picked in the IPL auction, he said, “I was at home with my mom and sister. When LSG picked me, they both had tears in their eyes — happy tears. It was one of the most emotional moments for our family”.

His IPL experience, especially the exposure in the dressing room, left a lasting impression.

“It was surreal to share the space with legends. Just observing their work ethic and discipline taught me so much. Rishabh bhaiyya gave me amazing advice — keep things simple and always stay in the present. That really stuck with me”.

Talking about Langer, Arshin shared a key moment from one of their early interactions.

“During our first practice session, JL told me, ‘Watch the ball like Maxwell’. He referenced Maxwell’s 201 in the World Cup — especially how he watched the ball so closely, even when he couldn’t move. That advice stayed with me”.

“JL and I still stay in touch. We keep talking about my batting. I texted him after scoring 146 and 69 in the Buchi Babu, and he replied, ‘Perfect. Very good job!’ That message meant a lot”.

For Arshin, the message is simple: stay grounded and keep doing the job.

A young left-arm pacer from Punjab introduced himself to the cricketing world with a stunning debut in IPL 2025.

His very first delivery? A dream ball — swinging away late and drawing the edge of Ajinkya Rahane to have him caught at backward-point. Next came Rinku Singh, known for his brutal hitting, but the youngster unsettled the southpaw with a sharp bouncer that ended his stay.

Then entered Manish Pandey. An absolute peach of an inswinger trapped him plumb in front—two wickets in the same over.

But the best was yet to come.

Andre Russell—one of the most intimidating batters—was first pushed onto the backfoot with a short ball and then undone by a scorching yorker that uprooted the middle stump, leaving the Kolkata Knight Riders stunned.

In just three overs, Ashwani Kumar had made his mark. His final figures: 3-0-24-4.

Now playing for Punjab in the longer format in the Buchi Babu Tournament, the 23-year-old spoke to the media about his IPL stint and his ambitions for the forthcoming season.

“It all started during the Sher-E-Punjab tournament. Rahul Sanghvi sir, spotted me. Shortly after, I got a call for trials with the Mumbai Indians. The entire MI support staff was present— Kieron Pollard, Mahela Jayawardene (MJ), and everyone else. I think they liked what they saw, and that’s how I got picked,” said Ashwani.

“It was surreal. I still remember meeting Hardik (Pandya) bhaiyya and Rohit (Sharma) bhaiyya. They told me I would be bowling in the death overs and helped me prepare mentally. The message was clear: stay calm, back your skills.”

“When Trent Boult saw me bowling during the camp, he started calling me ‘Swingie’—that became my nickname for the whole tournament! I asked him questions about wrist position, swing control, and lengths. He was generous with his time and tips.”

“(Jasprit) Bumrah bhai was amazing. He taught me how to read the wicket and how to control the game from my end. He said there will be plenty of matches ahead and I’d eventually win games for my team—but I must remain balanced, both on and off the field.”

“The ultimate dream—to wear the India jersey and win matches for the country. That’s my biggest motivation and ambition,” he said.