Atharva Ankolekar: All you need to know about India’s hero at the U19 Asia Cup

Atharva Vinod Ankolekar’s five-wicket haul helped India defend the title after a thrilling five-run win against Bangladesh in the final to clinch their seventh Under-19 Asia Cup.

Defending a paltry total of 106, India dismissed Bangladesh for 101 in 33 overs, courtesy 18-year-old Ankolekar, who emerged as the star of the team returning with figures of 5/28 from 8 overs.

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READ: India beat Bangladesh by 5 runs in thriller to lift U19 Asia Cup for seventh time

Here are a few facts about the young Ankolekar:

• Atharva Vinod Ankolekar hails from Mumbai. The 18-year-old is a left arm orthodox bowler.
• He used to study at the Parle Tilak School in Vile Parle East (Mumbai).
• Coming from a lower middle-class family, Atharava, currently pursuing his commerce degree at a city college, was encouraged to play cricket by his father, who passed away in 2010 due to malaria.
• His father used to work as a conductor for Mumbai’s BEST service and after his death, his mother, Vaidehi was given her husband’s job to support and help Atharva pursue his dreams.
• Atharva, who turns 19 on September 26, trains at Mumbai’s MIG Cricket Club in Bandra and plays for Star Cricket Club.
• Atharva had received a pair of gloves from India icon Sachin Tendulkar, which he claims was the biggest moment in his career.
• He has another brother Parth, who is 13 years old. According to a report in MID-DAY, Atharva has a surprise for his younger brother, who also a left-arm spinner and is part of the Mumbai U-14 set up. “I have purchased a pair of shoes for him. I want to provide him everything which I could not get,” he said.