Atharva Ankolekar, hero of India's U-19 Asia Cup win, has BEST mum

Left-arm orthodox spinners have had a rough time in finding a secure place in the Indian cricket pantheon in recent decades. May be it was due to comparisons to the peerless Bishan Singh Bedi or may be it was the perception that Indian batsmen are adept at playing spin. The struggles become harder if a player does not come from a financial secure background.

That is why the success of left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar in the recent Under-19 Asia Cup tournament in Sri Lanka is special. Ankolekar not only helped India win the Asia Cup by picking five wickets against Bangladesh in the final, he was also the top wicket taker in the tournament with 13 scalps to his name. Ankolekar has the whole world at his feet, but his success would not have been possible without the sacrifices of his family.

Ankolekar, who will celebrate his 19^th birthday on September 26, lost his father in 2010. His father, Vinod Ankolekar, was a bus conductor at the state-run BEST corporation in Mumbai. Vinod, who had played in the Kanga League tournament in Mumbai, had died of malaria. On his death, his wife, Vaidehi, took up his job with BEST as a conductor in order to support her children Atharva and Parth.

"When I got my India (U19) jersey, tears had rolled down my eyes as my father was not there to experience this moment. I dedicate the Asia Cup trophy and my fifer in the final to my late father," Atharva said upon his return to Mumbai.

Vaidehi was unassuming while speaking to mediapersons, noting that she did not understand cricket and only provided for her son's needs. Vaidehi took leave on Saturday to watch Atharva perform in the final, but the family's satellite connection did not have the channel broadcasting the match. Therefore, she went to her in-laws' house to watch the match, The Indian Express reported.

She told mediapersons the family did not have money to buy shoes for Atharva, with someone else pitching in. Atharva recently told his mother not to buy sports shoes for Parth, who is already an under-14 player, telling he would buy it from his daily allowance for the Asia Cup.

Speaking to Cricket Country, Vaidehi appreciated the contribution of the coaches who supported Atharva and even the Rizvi College of Arts, Science and Commerce, where he is studying for a B.Com degree. Vaidehi wants Atharva to go further and play for the Indian national team and in the IPL.

For his part, Atharva hopes to achieve enough financial security to allow his mother to retire as a BEST bus conductor and take up a less strenuous profession such as teaching.