I always believed that Mukesh is destined for bigger things: Coach Surendra Bhave

Mukesh Choudhary, all of 16 back in the day, bowled for the first time at the 22-yards academy, there was some spark which convinced former national selector Surendra Bhave to believe that his newest ward will make it big. Eight years hence, 25-year-old Choudhary has grabbed opportunities provided by Chennai Super Kings with seven wickets from seven games, including a man-of-the-match winning 3/19 against Mumbai Indians. "When I saw him at our academy in the first week, I immediately told our coach Rajesh Mahurkar that I could 100 percent visualise a first-class player in him.

They (academy coaches) still can't believe that what I predicted came true," Bhave, a former first-class heavyweight and current Punjab Ranji team coach told PTI. Bhave recollected the time when young Choudhary came to him after not being satisfied with a couple of academies. "Mukesh came to my academy after having visited a couple of academies earlier.

I believe somebody suggested that he visit our academy if he wants systematic coaching," Bhave, who has scored nearly 8000 first-class runs for Maharashtra and West Zone, said. But since his academy did not play invitational tournaments which is a norm if one wants to make a case for Ranji Trophy selection. What worked for Choudhary was his good physique, coupled with a very smooth action.

It wasn't long before Bhave laid the first platform for the Rajasthan boy which enabled him to showcase his talent in-front of Maharashtra selectors. "He had a naturally beautiful action, which was refined, and had a good physique. Then he trained with us on a regular basis.