A hint of mischief seldom leaving his eyes, Rohit Mahendra Kanaiya appears comfortable amid the cricketing memorabilia so passionately collected by his father in their Chennai home. For J.K. Mahendra, a member of the Indian schoolboys' team that visited England in 1967 and a Kerala Ranji Trophy player, cricket has been more than just a sport. The images of the game's immortals staring at you from every corner of the room reflect Mahendra's devotion. Now, Mahendra is delighted that Rohit, following his footsteps, has had a whiff of international cricket.
International calling
Rohit represented Denmark in the qualifiers for World Cup 2011 last year. The event was held in South Africa and he enjoyed every moment of the competition. “Although we did not qualify for the World Cup, it was a wonderful experience,” said Rohit, a pace bowler and a handy batsman. Mahendra added, “I had represented India as a schoolboy. I am glad that Rohit has got to play for some country in international cricket. It was a proud moment for me when he took part in the World Cup qualifiers.” Rohit, who settled down in Denmark in 2001, revealed cricket, played with a largely amateur spirit in this European nation, retained an old world charm.
Fond memories
There were only a handful of clubs but a few of them were rich in history. On weekends, a crowd of around 200 spectators would cheer their teams on lush green grounds with gleaming clubhouses standing sentinel. The setting is a throwback to another era. Rohit felt cricket had a long way to travel in a football dominated country. “The interest in soccer is even higher these days because Denmark has qualified for the World Cup. But quite a few immigrants and some locals do play cricket regularly.” Occasionally, cricketers from established nations such as former Aussie leg-spinner Bryce McGain participate in the Danish league as player-coaches. Rohit was a successful paceman in age-group cricket for Tamil Nadu.
“People said I was sharper than I seemed,” he remembers. His finest moment for Tamil Nadu came against Karnataka in the under-22 competition when he picked up ten wickets in the match and produced an innings of 99. Rohit, subsequently, shifted to Kerala and did play for the State in the Ranji Trophy and the one-day matches. Along the way, he decided to pursue a different career in Europe. Of course, cricket has stayed with him.
Now, Mahendra is delighted that Rohit, following his footsteps, has had a whiff of international cricket
