The Phoenix rises
It was not surprising, that having taken the first step, he wished to
excel.He revelled in the challenge of proving himself against better
opposition.The competition in the sector matches were intense. At this stage
his family began to encourage him, particularly his brother Bushan, who was
three years elder to kapil. At fourteen kapil was playing for DAV school and
college.
There was only one descent cricket ground in Chandigarh, the Chandigarh
Cricket Club and only one accredited coach, Mr.D.P.Azad. Kapil was also coached
by him.He would finish school at 1:30 p.m, race home on his bicycle, be home at
1:50, gulp his lunch down and set out for the cricket ground at 2:15. He would
be at the cricket ground at by 2:40 p.m. In june the temperature scorches at 40
degrees Celcius and this fourteen year old would be luxuriating under
noisy fans and dreaming behind tightly closed eyes.
When kapil was 15, he was invited along with 24 other talented young boys
to attend a live-in coaching camp in Bombay. The camp was at the Cricket Club of
India run by Hemu Adhikari, an ex-test cricketer.The details of running the
camp were the responsibility of Mr.Tarapore. The practice sessions were
conducted in hot and humid conditions and without a break for 3 hours. No water,
no respite. The first day the youngsters sat down to lunch was an epic movement
in Kapil's development. Lunch was 2 dry chappatis and a spoonful of
vegetables. This is how kapil reacted to this situation.