>Lugnuts at 06:43, 25 February 2021

2021-02-25T06:43:56Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{short description|Indian cricketer}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Atharva Ankolekar
| country = India
| fullname = Atharva Vinod Ankolekar
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|9|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightm =
| nickname = Bandya<ref name=cinfo/>
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = [[Slow left-arm orthodox]]
| role = [[All-rounder]]
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/1175467.html Cricinfo
| date = 28 January
| year = 2020
}}
'''Atharva Ankolekar''' (born 26 September 2000) is an Indian [[cricket]]er who plays for [[India national under-19 cricket team|India Under-19s]]. He was the highest wicket-taker at the [[2019 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup]] and player of the match in the final. He made his senior debut for [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]] in January 2021.

==Early and personal life==
Ankolekar was born on 26 September 2000 into a lower-middle-class family.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acharya |first1=Shayan |title=Meet Atharva Ankolekar, star of India's win in U-19 Asia Cup final |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/atharva-ankolekar-u-19-asia-cup-mumbai-mother-sachin/article29417410.ece |accessdate=15 September 2019 |work=Sportstar |date=14 September 2019}}</ref> His father Vinod Ankolekar, an employee at the electricity department of [[Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport|BEST]] and [[Kanga League]] cricketer,<ref name=htimes/> wanted him to become a professional cricketer and placed a [[cricket bat]] near his crib on the day of his birth.<ref name=cinfo/> After being initially coached by his father, Ankolekar was trained for one season at [[Chandrakant Pandit]]'s academy but later had to switch to MIG Cricket Club due to financial constraints. His father died in 2010 due to malaria and dengue.<ref name=cinfo>{{cite news |last1=Dikshit |first1=Vishal |last2=Somani |first2=Saurabh |title=How Atharva Ankolekar went from adversity to U-19 stardom |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28478938/how-atharva-ankolekar-went-adversity-u-19-stardom |accessdate=28 January 2020 |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=14 January 2020}}</ref>

Ankolekar's family struggled to make ends meet after his father's death, even as Ankolekar's mother Vaidehi Ankolekar's worked part-time as a private tutor.<ref name=cinfo/> In 2014, Vaidehi started working as a bus conductor for BEST.<ref name=dna/><ref name=htimes>{{cite news |last1=Sengupta |first1=Bihan |title=Atharva Ankolekar’s ‘BEST’ gift to mother as India beat Bangladesh in U19 Asia Cup |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/atharva-ankolekar-s-best-gift-to-mother-as-india-beat-bangladesh-in-u19-asia-cup/story-LbINO6vrr0Wf8CIhZ8rHoL.html |accessdate=15 September 2019 |work=Hindustan Times |date=14 September 2019}}</ref>

He studied commerce at the Rizvi College of Arts, Science and Commerce in [[Mumbai]].<ref name=dna/>

==Career==
Ankolekar made steady progress through Mumbai's age-group teams, before being selected for India B in the Under-19 Challenger Trophy and Mumbai under-23 squad in 2019.<ref name=cinfo/> He was selected in the 15-member Indian squad for the [[2019 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup]].<ref name=dna>{{cite news |last1=Vaktania |first1=Shirish |title=DNA POSITIVE: Mumbai bus conductor's son makes it to Indian U-19 cricket team |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-dna-positive-mumbai-bus-conductor-s-son-makes-it-to-indian-u-19-cricket-team-2786028 |accessdate=15 September 2019 |work=DNA India |date=30 August 2019}}</ref> He picked 12 wickets in the tournament, including a match-winning 5/28 in the final against Bangladesh, to finish as the highest wicket-taker.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Devendra |title=His bus conductor mother praying back home, Atharva Ankolekar steers India to U-19 Asia Cup title |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/atharva-ankolekar-steers-india-to-u-19-asia-cup-title-5996090/ |accessdate=15 September 2019 |work=The Indian Express |date=15 September 2019}}</ref> Earlier in the tournament, he had taken 3/36 against Pakistan<ref>{{cite news |title='BEST' son helps India beat Pakistan in Under-19 Asia Cup |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/cricket/report-best-son-helps-india-beat-pakistan-in-under-19-asia-cup-2788220 |accessdate=15 September 2019 |work=DNA India |date=8 September 2019}}</ref> and 4/16 against Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Son of a bus conductor, Atharva Ankolekar spins India to U-19 Asia Cup title |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/son-of-a-bus-conductor-atharva-ankolekar-spins-india-to-u-19-asia-cup-title/articleshow/71133763.cms |accessdate=15 September 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=15 September 2019}}</ref> In the aftermath of the Asia Cup victory, Ankolekar gained selection in the [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai senior team]] for the [[2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Vijay Hazare Trophy: India U-19's Asia Cup hero Atharva Ankolekar included in 17-member Mumbai squad |url=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/vijay-hazare-trophy-india-u-19s-asia-cup-hero-atharva-ankolekar-included-in-17-member-mumbai-squad-7357531.html |accessdate=28 January 2020 |work=Firstpost |date=17 September 2019}}</ref>

In December 2019, he was named in India's squad for the [[2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bcci.tv/articles/2019/news/139375/four-time-champion-india-announce-u19-cricket-world-cup-squad |title=Four-time champion India announce U19 Cricket World Cup squad |work=Board of Control for Cricket in India |accessdate=2 December 2019}}</ref> After sitting out of India's first two matches in the tournament, Ankolekar's spell of 3/28 in the final group stage match against New Zealand drew praise.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mohanarangan |first1=Vinayakk |title=U-19 World Cup: In India’s solid win against New Zealand, Atharva Ankolekar thrives under pressure |url=https://scroll.in/field/951018/u-19-world-cup-in-indias-solid-win-against-new-zealand-atharva-ankolekar-thrives-under-pressure |accessdate=28 January 2020 |work=Scroll.in |date=25 January 2020}}</ref> Batting at number 7 in the quarterfinal against Australia, he scored 55 runs off 54 balls to help India post 233/9 and eventually win the match.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shah |first1=Shresth |title=Jaiswal, Ankolekar, Tyagi put India in semi-final as Under-19s show great character |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8368/report/1204701/india-under-19s-vs-australia-under-19s-super-league-quarter-final-1-icc-under-19-world-cup-2019-20 |accessdate=28 January 2020 |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=28 January 2020}}</ref>

He made his [[Twenty20]] debut on 13 January 2021, for Mumbai in the [[2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy]].<ref name="T20">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1244339.html |title=Elite, Group E (N), Mumbai, Jan 13 2021, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref> He made his [[List A cricket|List A]] debut on 25 February 2021, for Mumbai in the [[2020–21 Vijay Hazare Trophy]].<ref name="LA">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1250941.html |title=Elite, Group D, Jaipur, Feb 25 2021, Vijay Hazare Trophy |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=25 February 2021}}</ref>

==Playing style==
Ankolekar initially played as a lower-order batsman, and started bowling [[slow left-arm orthodox|left-arm orthodox spin]] on a regular basis at the insistence of his coach.<ref name=cinfo/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ankolekar, Atharva}}
[[Category:2000 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Mumbai cricketers]]

Atharva Ankolekar - Revision history

>Lugnuts at 06:43, 25 February 2021