Rohit Sharma's Childhood Coach Backs Tennis-Ball Cricket, Calls It "Vital" For Player's Growth

For a nation where cricket is followed like a religion by millions, tennis-ball cricket sets the foundation for many. Every street sees young aspiring cricketers weave their dreams with a tennis ball. The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) has been giving those dreams a platform to shine. In its ongoing second edition, the league has captivated the attention from across the country while bringing together a spectacular mix of young talent and experienced campaigners. With the playoffs set to fire up the season 2, Dadoji Kondadev Stadium in Thane sees excitement rising day by day.

Among the many greats who were impressed by the exceptional talent and format of the league is Rohit Sharma's childhood coach Dinesh Lad. A former cricketer and Dronacharya Awardee, Dinesh Lad hails the importance of tennis-ball cricket in a cricketer's formative years and the potential the league holds for players.

"The league has been very exciting so far. Seeing the players play in ISPL, I can only wish if such a league existed in our time as well. Tennis-ball cricket is a difficult sport and like many, I also started my journey playing tennis-ball cricket. I like to train budding players with a tennis ball initially so as to help them hone their skills," Lad said, as quoted from a release by ISPL.

"Tennis-ball cricket is vital for the growth of a cricketer. Most cricketers start playing with a tennis ball and you can play with it during the rainy season as well. It helps a cricketer better their shots, especially the batsmen to better their pull-shots, among others," he added.

Lad, who trained India captain Rohit Sharma in his childhood days, reflected on the impact tennis-ball cricket had on him.

"He used to practice with a wet tennis