Mumbai-born cricketer represents Oman in ICC World T20

He swung his bat for Balmohan Vidyamandir (Shivaji Park) in Harris Shield and Giles Shield, captained the college team (DG Ruparel College in Matunga) but never played for India. Call it luck, he ended up playing for Oman. Meet Vaibhav Wategaonkar — the 33-year-old representing the Arab country in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20.

Vaibhav, who made his debut against Argentina in 2007, left Mumbai in 2003 for an IT career. Cricket came as a perk.

“The Mumbai team was very strong that time. I thought it would be better to shift base. In Oman, companies have their own cricket teams and there are tournaments for selection. A friend of mine told me about it and I bagged the job,” says Vaibhav, who made his Twenty20 International debut against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup qualifier a month ago.

Grown up in Worli, Vaibhav trained in Dilip Vengsarkar’s cricket academy. “I have had many coaches — from Deepak Murkar to Vasu (Paranjpe) Sir. I played ‘A’ division cricket for Fort Vijay as well. Vinayak Mane, Omkar Khanvilkar are my contemporaries from Mumbai cricket. Ajinkya Rahane and the crop are very junior to me,” he adds.

However, the cricket culture in Oman is slightly different. It doesn’t have clubs like Mumbai.“The tournaments are on company basis. All companies participate in ‘A’ and ‘B’ divisions with their own team. But to play for the national team, one needs to be in Oman for at least four years,” he reveals. Cricketers in Oman are mostly emigrants and Vaibhav shed some light that. “The locals are gradually showing interest but it is mostly filled with cricketers from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. We have one Omani in our team but he is also half-Indian,” says Vaibhav, who modelled his cricket on West Indies legend Brian Lara. “I don’t like any left-handers from the Indian cricket team. Lara was the one and only best player,” he asserts.

When asked if he ever feels like returning to his roots and giving it a shot in India, he says matter-of-factly, “I don’t think I will get that opportunity. I do miss Mumbai maidan cricket and the street food. But I am also playing for a national team, even though it is not my own country.”

Oman stunned Ireland by two wickets in the first round fixture of Group A. The southpaw didn’t make it to the final 11, but he is hopeful of a berth in the next match. “Let’s hope I get a chance in the next. We are taking one game at a time. Our next goal is to play the 50-over World Cup,” said Vaibhav.