Determined Shahrukh Khan yearns to taste Ranji cricket

A couple of years ago in January when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for the Under-19 World Cup, a certain 18-year-old batting all-rounder from Chennai was left gutted. Viewed as the next big batting talent to have emerged out of the state with a reputation for playing wristy shots, Masood Shahrukh Khan failed to make the cut despite putting in some great performances in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy a few months prior to the mega tournament.

In six matches, he had scored 624 runs at an average of 78 and also went on to star with the ball by picking up 18 wickets. Despite his World Cup dreams getting crushed, Shahrukh picked himself up and decided to move on. "I got a double hundred against Bombay, in the Under-19 I did very well that year," he told Cricbuzz. "Just before the World Cup I did well, I got 600 runs in six matches and took 20 (18) wickets as well but they didn't pick me for the tournament. I missed out on it then but it is fine, I got to play limited-overs cricket for my state."

A month later, the much-awaited state debut came his way as he was picked to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Tamil Nadu. And that was a moment the right-hander would never forget as he got to play alongside some big names. "The year I made my debut, I was playing alongside Badri (Subramaniam Badrinath), Bala (Lakshmipathy Balaji), Ani (Srikkanth Anirudha), we had a superb team at that time.

"Obviously, I used to watch them on TV and then playing with them was totally a different feeling. They made me feel comfortable. I played five games. And also I got my cap from Murali Vijay, so that was a good memory."

The youngster recollects that he was very nervous while he was on the field for the first time in that particular game against Goa. "I was very nervous. I didn't get to bat as well but while fielding I was very nervous. But all the players helped me a lot, they were kind of backing me throughout. For about ten minutes I was very nervous, then I was fine."

He also made his T20 debut for the state a few weeks later against the same opposition and this time had an opportunity to bat at the end of the innings. He blasted an unbeaten 21 off just eight balls but still saw his side lose comfortably. Having been in and out of the side, Shahrukh hasn't set the inaugural Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) on fire as well by his own admission. Plying his trade for Ruby Kanchi Warriors, he has made only 70 runs in five innings so far.

"TNPL has been quite good," he says. "The crowd response has been great. It motivates youngsters like us to do well but I have not been doing so well. It hasn't gone great but it isn't late yet, I hope I will do well at the right time."

Apart from his batting, his name has always managed to grab attention after being named after one of the biggest movie stars in the world. He smiles immediately when asked about it. "My parents liked this name," he confesses. "It obviously came from the actor Shah Rukh Khan. In 1994-95, he started getting famous, Darr and all those movies were released back then. My mother's cousin sisters liked him a lot, so they wanted my mother to keep my name Shahrukh."

Has this had a negative impact though considering it can prove to be a distraction while batting? "Yes, but I've been used to this," he says. "People keep calling Shahrukh, Shahrukh. From my under-13, under-14 days I used to get sledged a lot while batting by the short leg fielder."

The 21-year-old then reveals that he had a lot of idols while growing up but currently, he is looking up to England's batting sensation Joe Root and labels him as one of his favourite batsmen. One of the best advice people give young cricketers these days is to keep their head down and work hard towards success. Shahrukh certainly takes a modest approach and plays down the hype that has been surrounding him for a while now.

"I have played well before but I need to keep up, score runs every time and let people know that I'm a good talent because suppose if they think I'm good and if I don't score then it (the hype) is not worth it, so I need to keep scoring every time."

Shahrukh is now intent on making his first-class debut as soon as possible and reveals he has been working hard towards it. A naturally aggressive batsman, he is nowfocusingon spending more time at the crease to prove his credentials in the longer format.

"It is everyone's dream to play Ranji Trophy and I'm working a lot on my batting now," he says. "I am working on playing long, being solid at the crease. I'm working with Chemplast, especially on my batting with Jayakumar sir. Earlier, I was a very aggressive batsman. When I get a loose ball, the first instinct was to go for it. But nowadays, I want to play the longer format to be a regular member in the Ranji Trophy side, sustain longer at a higher level and I'm trying to work on my game a lot to be more solid. I want to manoeuvre and not just go for shots. I want to bat long and play as many balls as possible."

And now with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association naming him in the list of probables for the 2016-17 Ranji season, he has inched a step closer to realising his dream.