An incredible victory for Itkhola in the APCC, Hritwik is set to become a worthy successor to Prakash and Rahul

Cricket has always been Silchar’s favorite sport. This game has given a lot to Silchar’s sports legacy. Primarily, cricket has developed around the Silchar DSA or District Sports Association. The period when Pritam Das, Abhishek Thakuri, Rahul Singh, and Dibakar Johari played together for the state Ranji team is perhaps the brightest chapter in the cricket history of Barak Valley.

But in the intervening years, it seemed as if Silchar’s cricket had suddenly come to a standstill. No new cricketers were emerging. There was no sign of anyone capable of carrying forward the legacy of Pritam Das and others. Silchar’s presence in the state’s various age-group cricket teams was barely noticeable. A shadow of apparent despair seemed to have begun settling over Silchar’s 22 yards. The cricket season continued as per the DSA calendar with competitions ranging from Super Division to other categories, but somehow, the promise of earlier times seemed to have been overshadowed. However, before this shadow could deepen further, Silchar’s Itkhola Athletic Club’s spectacular victory in the Assam Premier Club Cup Cricket (APCC) heralded a new crop in the region’s 22 yards. Even more significant, this tournament provided a glimpse of worthy successors to Pritam, Rahul Singh, Abhishek Thakuri and others.

After Devajit Saikia took over as the secretary of Assam cricket, he took several important steps to advance the state’s cricket. One of them was the APCC. The initiative was primarily aimed at giving district-level cricket-playing clubs a bigger platform. The total prize money for the tournament exceeded a crore rupees, naturally making it an attractive proposition. Silchar’s prestigious India Club once reached the semifinals, but unfortunately, the match was washed out due to rain. Losing the toss forced India Club to exit the tournament. Overcoming a seven-year drought, last week, Itkhola AC team clinched the title of Assam’s best club. There’s no doubt that this victory will serve as a catalyst to breathe new life into Silchar’s nearly parched cricket grounds.

Itkhola’s success stands out from the usual tournament victories for a different reason. The tournament is held in three stages. This year, 372 club teams from 41 cricket-playing districts of the state participated. Forty teams qualified from the preliminary round through competitions in six zones. Only 12 made it to the final round. Winning the title from there was no mean feat. Those connected to the field know well that such success is possible only through team unity or “teammanship “
That’s the story of collective effort & success.

But I would say the greatest gift from Itkhola’s extraordinary achievement is the emergence of an immensely talented cricketer like Hritwik Dhar. I’ve been somewhat distanced from the ground for a while now, so I don’t get much news about games or players these days. Honestly, I was unaware of this talented teenager. Recently, I read in the newspaper that this left-arm spinner from Silchar had been selected as the captain of Assam’s Under-16 state team. That surprised me a bit. But his outstanding performance in the APCC final—winning Man of the Tournament, Best Bowler, and two Man of the Match awards—captured the spotlight and sparked a special curiosity about him.

Upon inquiry, I learned that Hritwik is a trainee at the Silchar DSA Cricket Academy. It hasn’t been long since he started. Within this short time, he earned a call-up to the Assam Cricket Association’s (ACA) open trials and secured a spot. Soon after, he became the captain of the state team. He has showcased his skills playing for the team in various states. In the current cricket season, Hritwik stood out in Silchar DSA’s Super Division, competing with all the super seniors. However, his performance for Itkhola in the APCC introduced the state’s cricket to a rising star. In just the main round matches, Hritwik took 21 wickets, playing a crucial role in laying a strong foundation for his team.

The key architects behind Hritwik’s rise, a resident of Silchar Aryapatti, are his parents. From regularly taking him to the academy to supporting him in various trial camps and tournaments, they have been his strength behind the scenes. As a result, this slender teenager has suddenly leaped from the back row to the forefront.

There’s another coincidental connection here. The Itkhola-Malugram region has so far gifted two Ranji cricketers—Prakash Bhagat and Rahul Singh. Both are left-arm spinners. While Prakash has retired from cricket, Rahul is still playing brilliantly. In one season of BCCI Under-19 cricket, Rahul took 54 wickets, setting a remarkable record. If Hritwik emerges as a worthy successor to these two stars in the future, it wouldn’t be surprising at all. That would be the greatest gift from Itkhola to Silchar and Assam cricket as a whole.