New CSK entrant Ayush Mhatre’s interview as a six-year-old and clip of him batting

When Chennai Super Kings visit the Wankhede Stadium to take on the Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League game on Sunday evening, for Ayush Mhatre it will be homecoming. He may not play the game against the Mumbai Indians, but the man who was called in as a late injury replacement for Chennai captain Ruturaj Gaikwad will be back at his old stomping grounds.
Ayush Mhatre has represented Mumbai in nine first-class games so far, racking up two centuries and a half century. Besides that he has also turned out for the domestic giants in seven l A games. In these L A games, he has a high score of 181 against Nagaland to go with 148 against Saurashtra during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
WATCH: Six-year-old Ayush Mhatre batting
In the video, uploaded on YouTube the Vengsarkar Cricket Academy (operated former India cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar) in July 2014, the young Ayush is interviewed where he gives one-word replies to questions. Then, his grandfather, who was known to accompany him to the maidans when he was a kid, is interviewed.
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Asked why they sent him to train when he was so young, Mhatre’s grandfather Laxmikant Naik replies: “We saw his talent with the bat. We thought whether he becomes something big in the sport or not is a matter of destiny. But it is our duty to push him. We sent him to Vengsarkar Cricket Academy because who hasn’t heard his name? He was a legend before Sachin Tendulkar became one. So we thought we should send him to work under someone of that stature. Ayush has the talent to grow rapidly if he learns from the best.”
Mumbai’s Ayush Mhatre being felicitated after he became the youngest player to score 150-plus in men’s L A cricket in January this year. Credit: BCCI Domestic
Ayush Mhatre made his debut as an opener for the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team last year in the Irani Trophy against the Rest of India team.
“I started to play when I was 6 but my real cricket started when I was 10,” Mhatre had told The Indian Express last year. “I got admission in Don Bosco High School in Matunga and it was my grandfather Laxmikant Naik (Nana) who took the responsibility to take me there every day. So in the morning, I used to go for practice in Matunga, attend school, and then go to Churchgate to attend another practice. My family used to tell my grandfather not to ruin my sleep but now, they too feel that my sacrifice is paying off.”