Arun Yadav- From Navi Mumbai’s Ilthanpada to “A” Division Cricketer!

It was in 2005 when 14yr old Arun could not muster the fees of Rs 150 after a few months of training, his coach Prasad Raut sir waved his fees at the Kwality Sports Academy! That’s how his career began with coaches Prasad Raut, Prashant Rathod,  Shekhar Karmalkar and Nitin Palande all playing a crucial role in shaping his cricket career. He remembers when he was playing well in U16 and Prasad sir challenged him to score a ton in open age group where players are far more senior than he was, Arun came up with a hundred and that’s how he earned his first English Willow bat from Prasad Raut sir”  He similarly got his first professional Reebok Shoes from his coach at a time when he was not able to afford it” Arun proudly shares today “had it not been their backup I would not be playing professional cricket today”

Arun continued sharing with us- “Prasad Raut sir would focus alot on my fielding and fitness, he would ensure that daily 30 minutes i only do drills for fielding and fitness. Prashant Rathod sir also guided me a lot on my batting, how to score and where to score runs, he always made me play as many practice matches as possible to hone my skills which has helped me a lot in my cricket career. Rathod sir would also share the experiences of Shekar sir and Nitin sir to improve my game”

Video-Arun Yadav fielding

Who doesn’t want a player who can plonk fours & sixes at will, chip in with crucial spells and can also do stunning fielding!? Players like them are called three dimensional players-a term popularized by Indian Team’s Chief Selector MSK Prasad. A player who can contribute with every aspect of the game whether it’s with the bat, with the ball or just saving those important runs with fielding!

Born and brought up in Navi Mumbai (ilthanpada), 28yr old Arun Yadav is one player who fills the three dimensional slot in every team he plays for! Arun who bats at the middle order is an athletic fielder who can make those dives to save crucial runs while he can also be more than useful with the ball with his medium pace often coming up with wickets too!

Arun plays for numerous Corporate teams like Jamunadas Shipping, Union Bank, Income Tax, Future Group, Route Mobile and now for DY Patil while he has played for MB Union CC, Sunrise CC, National Cricket Club and DY Patil Sports Academy at the Club level.

Arun’s cricket career started with Kwality Sports Academy in 2005, he started getting coached under Prashant Rathod, Mr. Prasad Raut, Mr. Nitin Palande and Mr. Shekhar Karmalkar. Arun’s first Kanga League Club was MB Union CC from “E” Div in 2007 while he got promoted to “B” Div representing Sunrise CC in 2010. While playing for Sunrise CC,  he took 38 wkts alongwith 235 runs in his debut Kanga Season under the captaincy of Ajay Kadam sir (who is now a Coach) while in the same year he scored a gritty 92 in the only match he played in Shalini Bhalekar Tournament. It was on the back of his consistent performances, he went on to lead the Sunrise CC team. Arun shares that even now he takes help from Ajay Kadam sir whenever he requires any guidance or any improvements in his game.

Arun further added’ I played under the captaincy of Rajesh Pawar for National CC. He supported me alot and always gave me freedom to play my natural game. Arun remembers his former skipper saying “even if you score golden ducks, i will not drip you  but you don’t leave your natural game” Arun says ” it was my skipper’s support that helped me perform well for National CC” in A Division. 

Video-Arun Yadav batting video

On the basis of his sparkling performances, he was offered to play for National Cricket Club from “A” Division where he scored 42 on debut. Arun also scored a fantastic 111 for National CC in Kanga League “A” Div despite being treated with Malaria during the match time. Arun came to limelight with a stellar knock of 158 vs Payyade SC in the Purshottam Shield at a time when his team collectively managed to score just 250 runs on the board! Arun’s good run with the bat continued as he followed it up with an 84 vs Karnatak CC in Quarter finals and a crucial hundred vs DY Patil in the semi finals of the SPG T20 Tournament where he was declared the ‘man of the series”

Finally all his hardwork and consistent performances came into notice of none other than Abey Kuruvilla sir (Former Indian Cricketer) who offered Arun to play for DY Patil Club which is one of the most powerful teams of Mumbai. Since 2017, Arun has been playing for DY Patil at the Club and Corporate level while his most memorable performance for DY Patil was the 6wkt haul he took in the finals of Times Shield’18.

Video-Arun Yadav bowling video

When we asked him to elaborate a few more promising performances, Arun shared “I scored a crucial 78 batting at no.8 last year for DY Patil, I was also declared the” Best Batsman” when I played for D Division” Arun had scored 208* in a 45 over game while smacked a brilliant 189 in the semi-finals in D Div Times Shield rightly bagging the “Best Batsman” award!

In 2019, Arun Yadav with the bat shattered records when he smashed 159* off mere 51 balls (21 fours, 9 sixes) for Sarab XI Team vs Bombay Bulls Vashi in Championship T20 tournament’19. It was a match where he was part of a record 362* run unbeaten opening stand with Vaibhav Mali (154*). Arun was also part of the Shivaji Park Lions Team in T20 Mumbai’19 where he began quite impressively.

Let’s wish Arun a great career ahead as he keeps entertaining the crowd and helps his team win matches across different formats.