IT WAS simply one other Tuesday for 48-year-old retired Military man Francis Xavier Minz. Working as a safety guard, employed by a agency, at Ranchi airport, he was serving to passengers with their boarding passes when Gujarat Titans picked his 21-year-old son Robin for Rs 3.60 crore after an intense bidding battle with Mumbai Indians.
“A CISF jawan got here to me, hugged me saying, ‘Arrey Francis sir, aap toh crorepati ban gaye’ (You’ve change into a millionaire),” Francis tells The Indian Categorical.
The Minz household has roots in Telgaon, a village within the tribal belt in Gumla district. Cricket is just not the largest sport within the area that has produced a number of world-class hockey gamers. The Lakra siblings Bimal, Birendra and Asunta are from Gumla.
Francis, too, was into sports activities, and it was his love for athletics that obtained him a job within the Military. After becoming a member of the armed forces, the household moved to Ranchi. It was right here that Robin picked up cricket and like most children within the 2000s, aspired to be like the town’s cult hero MS Dhoni.
Chanchal Bhattacharya, Dhoni’s childhood coach, would take Robin beneath his wings. The younger boy would decide up wicket-keeping and was additionally quickly hitting the ball out of the bottom. “When Mahi made his India debut, there was just one cricket academy in Ranchi. Now there are 15. I’m not exaggerating in saying that in Ranchi, wicket-keeping gloves are extra in demand plus younger cricketers prefer to have lengthy hair,” says Chanchal.
Father Francis too has Dhoni story. “I had met Dhoni on the airport just lately. He informed me Francisji koi nahi lega toh hum le lenge. (If nobody picks him, we are going to),” he says.
Robin trains at Sonnet Cricket Membership in Ranchi beneath three coaches. Asif Haque, who works on his batting, compares him to West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle.
“We name him Ranchi ka Gayle. He’s left-handed, nicely constructed, and hits large sixes. A brand new-age cricketer, who likes to tackle the bowlers from ball one, believes in batting at a strike price of 200,” says Asif.
“I and S P Gautam (former Bihar cricketer) work on his batting and attempt to persuade him to play pictures alongside the bottom, however that’s a tough activity. However as Chanchal da says, he reminds him of a younger Mahi, as a result of he can bat anyplace from No 3 to No 7 like a floater.”
Chanchal agrees and presents his argument: “Cricketers in Ranchi relate to the Mahi of outdated, the one who had lengthy hair, these large sixes.”
Like Robin, there was one other wicketkeeper-batsman from Jharkhand, Kumar Kushagra, 19, who was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 7.20 crore at Tuesday’s public sale. A few years in the past, Mumbai Indians had signed Ishan Kishan, one other wicketkeeper-batsman who honed his expertise in Ranchi, for Rs 15.25 crore.
“After Dhoni, we now have seen Ishan enjoying for India. This public sale, Kushagra and Robin have made it large. All of them are wicketkeepers and dashers with the bat,” says Chanchal.
Nonetheless, each coaches – Chanchal and Asif – need Robin to recollect what Dhoni informed him throughout a camp on the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi. “Achha khelte ho, tik ke khelo (You’re a good participant, however spend time on the crease). Don’t throw your wicket, try to take a single after hitting a six, don’t try to hit six sixes in a single over,” Asif recollects the dialog.
“He’s a bit like younger Mahi. He’s fearless and likes to assault all of the bowlers. He’s extra anxious about how far he has hit a six than how a lot time he has spent on the crease. He has obtained his self-discipline from his father since he has been raised like this,” laughs Chanchal.
At Ranchi airport, Minz Sr has change into an immediate movie star however stays grounded. “I will likely be right here when he’ll fly to play within the IPL. I’ve a job and two daughters who’re finding out, and I would like Robin to finish his commencement too,” says Francis.
The daddy says he has taught Robin what he learnt at 9 Bihar Regiment. “I’ve taught him imaandaari (honesty) and wafadari (loyalty). I hope he stays grounded, chases his dream, offers his 100 per cent and retains working arduous. At 9 Bihar Regiment, our battle cry is ‘Karam hello dharam hai’ (Work is worship). I’ve informed him to maintain this in thoughts,” the proud father says.