Vijayapura: Encouragement from family and dedication for achievement can certainly do wonders for any child. This has come true in the matter of Vijayapura.
This young cricketer is already making waves in the cricketing world with his impressive performances on the field. Samarth is a leg-spinner and middle-order batsman who is currently studying in the 9th standard at Jain Heritage School in Hebbal, Bengaluru.
Samarth’s talent in cricket was first recognised when he represented the Karnataka State Under-14 cricket team. He had an exceptional performance in the recent South Zone matches held in Kerala in January 2023, where he got an opportunity to play in only 4 matches and took 17 wickets. He took 5 wickets against Goa, 4 against Andhra Pradesh, 3 against Pondicherry and 5 against Kerala. Samarth’s performance made him the top wicket-taker for Karnataka and the 3rd highest wicket-taker in South Zone.
Samarth’s journey in cricket started with playing for the Karnataka Cricket Club in Vijayapura. He then moved to Bengaluru with his father, who is a Government servant, to pursue his cricketing career. In Bengaluru, Samarth started playing for the Social Cricket Club, where he made a remarkable impression on the coaches.
Prashant Hajeri, a former Karnataka State cricketer, and leg-spinner himself, has been coaching Samarth from a very young age. Prashant has been working with Samarth on the basic level of his game and giving valuable tips to improve his performance.
“Apart from his cricketing skills, Samarth is also good in academics, balancing his time between studies and cricket. Samarth’s dedication to both his studies and cricket has made him a role model for many young cricketers,” said his proud father Vinay Kulkarni.
Meanwhile Samarth said his goal is to represent bigger level cricket like the Indian Premier League (IPL) & the Indian cricket team.
“I believe that consistent performance in junior level cricket, support of my parents and encouragement of my coaches will surely help me in achieving my dreams,” he said.
“Samarth Kulkarni is a young and talented cricketer with immense potential. His achievements at a young age and his commitment to his game and studies have made him one of the most promising young talent in the cricketing world,” said Prashant Hajeri.
He said that it would be exciting to see his journey unfold as he continues to hone his skills and pursue his dreams. “His performances on the field and his dedication to the game are truly inspiring, and we wish him all the best for his future endeavours,” Hajeri said.
