Former RCB bowler unfolds on Kohli's best mood, bowling to Rohit, Nehraji's advise, et al | Part-1

Ever thought, if it’s possible to become a cricketer without even training and coaching until your late teenage? Is it feasible to flex your arms in a cricket ground alongside start-studded professionals despite missing out on proper cricket schooling? 

In a country of billions, millions follow cricket, and half of them dream to pursue it as a profession. From there, thousands get to represent the state and a cut short eleven get to don the national colors. 

Making it as a cricketer is not easy, it gets a lot more difficult if one misses out on early age coaching, as the typical stereotypical mind suggests. But as one says, Age is just a number and it’s never too late to start anything, we’ve got an uncanny example to cite from the above lines. 

Niesant Alvares is his name, doned the RCB nets, represented the India Aisa Cup camp, and much more. The 24-year-old Indian has also bestowed his game across Australia, South Africa, etc. 

In a candid chat with OneCricket, we’ll get to know how Niesant’s career shaped after starting off late, his first meeting with Virat Kohli, bowling to Rohit Sharma, Nehraji’s advice, and much more.

How did your cricketing journey begin?

I never played cricket as a kid. It happened to me when I was seventeen years old. I used to play football those days and was quite serious about it. Cricket was never my thing. I never watched cricket as well that much. It started as a challenge, you might say. Someone challenged me if I could bowl or not. 

I only had the vision of Brett Lee bowling and had the same action. And when I was bowling for the first time, I imagined myself to be the Australian speedster; never mind the speed (sighs). 

There was a person who played for Railways back in his days and asked me whether I do any professional cricket training or not. And I said, “No, I don't do it, I play football”. So he asked me to go through cricket coaching as I was fast in my initial days.

When did you realize that you can become a professional cricketer?

I was in Kolkata in the initial days, used to train here and there, and try to be a part of matches. I wasn't thinking of switching to cricket actually. 

In the early 2016s, for some reason, I had to shift to Delhi and was in an academy in Saket. A person from DDCA there told me that I was really good. So I wasn’t aware of what he meant until I bowled to a few U-19 batters. From that time, he told me to work more on my technicalities. 

In the back of my mind, it wasn't that I wanted to be a professional cricketer. I remember the day, it was my first professional match in Mohan Meakin's ground. All these U-19 and U-23 players were there, and I knew no one from there. That was the only match I played there. And then there was a famous coach, Mr. Tarak Sinha, who was affiliated with Sonnet. He was very good, as I was told, quite renowned too. Mr. Sinha gave some tips on how I should bowl and not hurt my back. 

I had an action where I was hurting my back and wasn't completely aware of that. So he suggested that I go to the NCA nets and bowl there. Then I felt that I could become a professional cricketer with proper training and preparation.

Share your story of getting a call-up in the RCB nets.

I went to NCA in late 2016 and early 2017, bowled in India U-19 nets, and impressed some coaches. The Team Manager of RCB, Rajeshwar sir, who's from Bangalore, spotted me there. 

It was in mid-April when I was called up, and RCB had already played around two matches. Suddenly, I got a call-up from Rajeshwar sir, and he told me, "I want to see you at the nets". The next day, I was at the gate, standing, and there were hundreds of fans near the entrance. 

RCB has a very good fanbase, and they were not allowed to enter as obvious. I told the security guard that I was asked to get in, but the guard didn't believe me and said, "sab yahi kehte hai". 

I didn't have the accreditation card then, as it was just the first day. I called Rajeshwar Sir thrice then, but he didn't pick up my call, and a few moments later, thankfully, he called me from another number, and then I explained to him the whole scenario. Then he came towards the gate and made sure that I got in by showing his accreditation card.

First reaction on seeing Virat, AB, Bazz, and others. Any goosebump moment?

On the first day, it was all glitz and glamour for me. I took some time to settle in. Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, lots of good players- Brendon McCullum was there, even Daniel Vettori sir. I just bowled a couple of overs on my first day and dished a few at Moeen Ali. Nehra sir was the bowling coach then and asked me to bowl some specific balls- wide yorkers, etc. I think Moeen Ali was practicing on those deliveries. I did get him out once on the first day.

The first conversation I had was with Nehra sir about how I'm going to bowl and when I'm going to bowl. I was excited to bowl. There were cameras all around, and some fans came to the training session. 

In the first instance, Virat Kohli had finished batting and was coming towards the dressing room, and I was going towards the ground. That was the first time I interacted with him. I asked him, "Hi, how are you, bhaiya?" He said, “Badhiya, tum batao! Sab badhiya?" I think he was chilled out and, thankfully was in his best mood. 

We all know that Virat is a living legend. His work ethic is shown in the training session. The way he approaches the game, his mentality, work ethic, and fitness are an example to everyone.

In 2018, you were also in the NCA camp ahead of the Asia Cup. What are the key takeaways from that stint of yours?

The Indian senior team was preparing for the Asia cup. Rohit Sharma was there. I think Khaleel Ahmed just came into the side then. I used to bowl a lot to Rohit Sharma, and it acted as a confidence booster. I knew where I should bowl to a good batter. And every ball is not about bowling fast, it's about how you surprise the batter with a mix of deliveries. In the end, you just need one good delivery to get a batsman dismissed.

Just like you castled the stumps of Moeen Ali, did you castle the furniture piece of Rohit Sharma too?

No, I couldn't manage to get him out. I did get Shikhar Dhawan out. That was basically to the slips, or keeper if they had caught it.

You had suffered from a rotator cuff injury earlier. Did it feel like a massive setback at that point in time?

I had a lack of youth cricket and lack of proper coaching. So I didn't know a few parts of the game that were also important- the physical side, the fitness aspect. So just bowling in the matches wasn't enough. I was bowling extra; I didn't manage my workload properly. Initially, I thought that it was just a regular pain due to my training and my shoulders started to become very sore on some mornings. Then I found out that I tore off my rotator cuff. 

Initially, when I was diagnosed, I saw the scan reports and was very disappointed. I was confident about my game then and had signed with a club in Kolkata. After delivering in the U-19 India nets, I thought my career would take a high graph. It took me around eight months to return to the field.

How did you motivate yourself to overcome it and come back stronger?

It's hard; sometimes you doubt yourself, but then again, the most important thing, you can develop in some areas, such as the mental side of the game, you can make it stronger. I think injuries are very harsh on any athlete as it takes away a lot of energy from the athlete. But then again, we can look at it positively to grow ourselves more substantially, and of course, there's a saying, "Comeback should be stronger than Setback" (Sighs).

Part 2 coming soon…