Daily wager's son makes it to AP Ranji team
Hyderabad, Sep 11: Hanumappa Shivaraj, son of a daily wage labourer in Anantapur district, has been selected to Andhra Pradesh Ranji Trophy cricket team. The 24-year-old was native of Chintapalli in Anantapur district. Poverty, lack of guidance and facilities did not deter him from achieving his long cherished goal. Shivaraj took inspiration from Indian cricketer M S Dhoni. Since childhood, Shivaraj is interested in cricket but poverty came as an obstacle in his way. He tilled land and worked from dawn to dusk to get a square meal. The turning point in his life came when he visited Bengaluru 10 years ago. He watched cricketers at training camps and learned a few tricks. He watched the coaches teaching and practised the tips himself. Some cricketers gifted him bats, pads and sports gear. He bowled off-spin to players in the nets to earn money. He got an opportunity to bowl in the nets to Karnataka Ranji team and Mumbai Indian. Finally, Ranji selectors spotted his talent and selected him for the AP team. According to reports, Shivaraj may earn an income of Rs 10 lakh by playing in the trophy.
