Kamptee footballer Asheer called for maiden India camp

 By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Sept 20, 2025

ASHEER Akhtar is just a step away from fulfilling his dream of playing for the Indian football team.

The ‘Rock’ NorthEast United Football Club defender, who hails from Kamptee in Nagpur, has been summoned for the national football camp, to be conducted by head coach Khalid Jamil, for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore.

“In addition to the 30-member probables, Brandon Fernandes and Asheer Akhtar have been called up to the national camp,” the All India Football Federation (AIFF) posted on ‘X’ on Friday.

The national team’s preparatory camp is scheduled to begin in Bengaluru from Saturday.

Kamptee’s Asheer, son of former AG Office footballer Mehfooz Akhtar, has been knocking Indian team’s doors for quite some time. He has performed as per the expectations of the selectors.

North East United FC, of which Asheer is an integral part, has recently retained the prestigious Durand Cup winning it for the second time.

The club was elated at Asheer’s call-up for camp.

“National duty-bound. Our defensive Rock, Asheer Akhtar, is called-up for Indian senior men’s team camp for the October FIFA International Window. We’re super proud of you Asheer!!!’, the club posted congratulatory message on Instagram along with the footballer’s photo. 

After that title win, Asheer had said he is working hard to make it to Blue Tigers’ squad. “I want to wear India Blue. That is my ultimate dream and I am working hard to fulfil it,” Asheer had told ‘The Hitavada’ after lifting the Durand Cup.

With his inclusion in probables for the match against Singapore, Asheer is hoping to get into the final team. “Yes, I am a step away from fulfilling my dream. I will work much harder to achieve the feat,” Asheer told ‘The Hitavada’ from Bengaluru on Friday evening.

“I was waiting for this day for a long time. My hard work has been noticed. But I will have to put in more effort to make it to the final team,” said Asheer, who was enjoying a happy evening with his wife and son at his home in Guwahati when he received the call from AIFF.

“It will be a great learning experience during the camp. All the top footballers of the country will be there and I will get a lot to learn from them,” said Asheer who started his football career with MM Rabbani school and club.

An Indian team will be picked from this camp which will play two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final round against Singapore (Oct 9) at the National Stadium and (Oct 14) at JN Stadium in Margao, Goa.

Duleep Trophy winning coach Usman Ghani’s success mantra ‘I just want to get into players’ hearts’

By Paritosh Pramanik

Nagpur, Sept 17, 2025

A COACH’S job at the top level is more of a mental aspect. 

Same was the success mantra of Duleep Trophy winning coach Vidarbha’s Usman Ghani.

He wanted to get the best out of his boys with his style of coaching. Ghani, coach of 2024-25 Ranji title winner Vidarbha, was an elated man after Central Zone claimed the Duleep Trophy after a hiatus of 11 years. 

Ghani gave all the credit to his wards for producing a title winning performance.

“It’s up to the boys, if they do well, credit comes to the coach as well. Credit to them only,” said Ghani while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ after the title victory, from Bengaluru.

Central Zone defeated South by six wickets to lift the trophy just before lunch on the fifth day.

“My job as a coach is to get the best out of them and that’s what I try to do. There is no mantra. All I want is to keep it super simple. I just want to get into their hearts and want players to give their best as individuals,” he said. 

The Central Zone team was a Vidarbha-heavy side with seven players playing the three games and four always in the playing XI. That made it a lot easier for coach Ghani as these four including Danish Malewar (Best Striker of the Tournament), Yash Rathod (Player of the final), Akshay Wadkar (who was added later in the squad) and Aditya Thakare know what the coach expected from them.

Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur, who both were picked for India A series against Australia A, were also part of the squad. Pacer Nachiket Bhute was added for the final as well.

“It was relatively easy to coach this side as there were several players from Vidarbha. It was easier to handle a state team. The players are professionals, they know what I want from them and what they need to do. The higher you go, the easier it is to execute your plans,” explained Ghani who was also coach of India C team last Duleep season.

The coach was highly impressed with the way Malewar presented himself. 

Malewar slammed a double century (203) against North East Zone in the quarter-finals. “He is a very sincere guy even in practice sessions. Whatever routine is given, he follows it to the ‘T’. 

“He is mentally very strong because of the routines he follows. He is focused and talented as well and he is maturing and adapting things at the higher level quickly,” Ghani said in praise of Malewar adding, “In Ranji final also he had given a strong performance.”

Malewar was made to open the innings and he passed the ‘test’ with flying colours. 

“Though it was not his position (to open) to bat, he performed the job with aplomb. With the team combination, I told him to open the innings and he accepted the challenge. He wanted to play at any position...he is a bright prospect and the ‘goal’ (of playing for the country) is not far,” Ghani predicted.

The Vidarbha coach was also full of praise for Rathod who scored 374 runs to emerge as the second highest scorer in Duleep Trophy this season.

“Rathod’s innings were brilliant. He is a consistent performer and is working hard to get into India A squad. Even pacer Yash Thakur is doing well. We have a good bunch of players who are knocking the India door. We are winning the tournaments but our players are not getting an India berth...so we are focusing on that only. We want our players to play the IPL and also for the country. After Umesh (Yadav) there is nobody (in India colour). Hopefully things will change now,” said Ghani who joined the Vidarbha team which is playing K Thimmappiah Memorial Tournament in Bengaluru.

While Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur got India A call-up, Rathod was ignored but Ghani felt that the left-handed batter is in the selectors’ scheme of things.

“Rathod will definitely get a chance to play for India A. There are many A tours lined up and I am sure he will be picked. Even Danish has staked claim with his consistent performance. These players’ performance will be definitely recognised by the BCCI. The selectors are making a pool of 30-40 players and Vidarbha cricketers are also in the scheme of things. The selectors have already targetted players like Dubey, Thakur and Rathod. They are already in their radar and now Malewar has also joined them.”

Ghani surprised all by using Wadkar as an opener who did perform well in his new batting position.

“Selectors gave me Wadkar as a replacement after Yash Juyal and Dhruv Jurel got injured. Wadkar had done well in Ranji Trophy so they (selectors) picked him. There was only the opener’s slot vacant and I asked him whether he would open? He replied in affirmative and said ‘I want to bat at any position’. And he proved himself. He got set but got out to a peach of a delivery which came back very sharply,” Ghani recalled.

With Duleep title in the bag, Vidarbha players will now concentrate on taking on Rest of India in Irani Trophy which will be held in Nagpur from October One. 

“The preparation has already started. We are ready for the challenge from the best cricketers of the country,” concluded Ghani.

Yash Rathod’s Success Story: From a back injury to hitting 600 balls daily in nets

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAAGUR, Sept 13, 2025 

YASH Rathod loves batting long innings. He believes in scoring runs in tons. And that’s what he did last Ranji Trophy season for Vidarbha where he emerged as the highest runs scorer with 960 runs.

That strong performance helped him get picked in the Central Zone team for Duleep Trophy. His appetite for runs continued in the zonal tournament as well as he slammed a Daddy Hundred (194) in the final against South Zone to take Central closer to the title as they took a huge first innings lead.

The big century was built up on twin half centuries he scored in quarter-finals against North East Zone where he hit 87* and 78 runs.

But these runs (1866 till now) starting from Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy (two centuries) did not come easily.

The 2024-25 season ended with Vidarbha emerging Ranji champions for the third time. Rathod slammed five centuries and three half centuries and it took toll on the left-handed Vidarbha middle-order mainstay’s body.

He suffered a minor back injury and was advised a month’s rest.

“I did not pick the bat for one month. The injury was not major but I was advised to take complete rest,” Rathod told ‘The Hitavada’ after the end of third day’s play of Duleep Trophy final in Bengaluru.

“The rehabilitation started and slowly I started strength training and batting and then I played Vidarbha Premier T20 League,” he 

mentioned.

After the 2023024 Ranji season, Rathod had a one-on-one session with coach Usman Ghani who cleared his doubts. “I went to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and worked with Hrishikesh Kanitkar who advised me minute changes in my batting,” he said.

Those changes helped Rathod last season where he was unstoppable.

In November 2024, Rathod had told this newspaper that he missed Duleep trophy berth because he did not hit centuries even though he had scored huge runs.

“Last year, I think I missed the Duleep Trophy berth as I did not score centuries, even though I scored good runs,” said Rathod after Vidarbha’s innings victory over Himachal last November.

This season, the left-handed batter converted his good starts into hundreds.

Rathod took the hard yards in the nets and batted for long hours in the nets.

“I used to bat around 600 balls daily in the nets at Nagpur Cricket Academy. This was my daily routine. I wanted to iron out all the flaws and hence I batted for over 600 balls daily,” stated Rathod who had hit 945 runs in 2017-18 Cooch Behar Trophy which Vidarbha won.

Rathod has been among runs for years. After Coronavirus break, Rathod slammed 611 runs from six matches in Col CK Nayudu Trophy in the 2021-22 season.

On missing the double hundred in the final, Rathod said, he is satisfied with 194 which came in the final. “Yes a double hundred would be lovely, but 194 came in the final of a Duleep Trophy. I am happy with my performance,” he said in a satisfied tone.

The non-selection in the India A team for the Australia A multi-day series did rankle Rathod but he decided to remind the selectors about his batting prowess with another big hundred in the final.

“Yes, I was a bit disappointed when the India A team was declared, I was expecting a call. But selection is not in my hands. What I can do is score runs and I did it in the final with 194 and I am happy with it. Selection will come with time. What my job is to keep scoring runs,” concluded Rathod.