Now, Gujarat exports cricket stars to the world

Monank Patel, 32Captain, Team USA Ask anyone from the Patel community in the Charotar region about their aspiration, and the answer is almost unanimous — settling in the United States. The life of Monank Patel, who grew up in Anand district in central Gujarat, followed a remarkably similar path.

Having represented Gujarat at the U-16, U-17, and U-19 levels, he faced fierce competition and was unable to break into the senior state team, leading him to pursue a more stable life in America alongside his parents. But cricket, as his childhood coach Devang Desai tells TOI, was always in his blood. Desai describes him as a naturally gifted cricketer who required minimal coaching and brought sincerity and discipline to everything he did. “Even while running a business in the US, Monank played for cricket leagues in New Jersey every weekend,” his father Dilip Patel, himself a cricketer, told TOI.

“Monank moved to the US in 2013. After competing in local leagues and fulfilling the residency requirement of three-and-a-half years, he earned his place in the US national team in 2018,” Dilip shares, noting that pursuing cricket in America came with significant financial challenges.

The pandemic threw a spanner in the works, but Monank pressed on. “He never gave up, and went on to represent the US at the 2024 T20 World Cup. As a family, we couldn’t be prouder that his dream of becoming a professional cricketer has come true,” Dilip says, adding fondly that Monank often reminisces about his U-16 days playing alongside Axar Patel and his U-19 stint with Jasprit Bumrah. Ansh Patel, 23 Spinner Team Canada Fourteen years ago, he arrived in India with a kit bag and a dream: wear the blue, play alongside the best.

Ansh Patel, 23, got close. The all-rounder sharpened his skills in Vadodara’s cricket nurseries and became a serious contender for the Indian squad. Then, in 2024, a change in BCCI eligibility rules shut the door. Disappointed, Patel moved to Canada. He worked his way up. When the call came for Canada’s T20 World Cup squad, he realized his dream hadn’t died; it had simply changed colours.

“I was thrilled when I learned I’d been picked,” he says.

“This will be my first World Cup.”

The irony? When he steps onto the field, he'll face the very team he once dreamed of representing. “India is one of the best cricket teams in the world and we’d like to give them a good fight,” Patel says. “Sharing the field with some of the game’s greats will be a learning experience too.” There’s one name that still resonates: Hardik Pandya, whom he watched during his Vadodara stint. “I have been a fan,” Patel says.

Now he won’t just be watching.

He will be playing against him. Harsh Thaker, 28 All-rounder Team Canada Harsh Thaker was nine when his family left Ahmedabad for Canada in 2007. Cricket made the journey with him. “My father, Tushar, was a university-level cricketer and I was a cricket enthusiast from childhood,” says Thaker, now 28. The son of a finance professional found his footing quickly. “In Canada, I joined the Qasra Cricket Academy and soon broke into the Under-15 team after a series of good performances.”

The batting all-rounder worked his way up — Under-19 World Cup, a warm-up match against India and selection for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Then came the injury, three weeks before the tournament. He watched from the sidelines. “So, this is the first World Cup I’m actually playing in for Canada,” Thaker says. And here’s the twist: Canada’s first match is in Ahmedabad. “It’s like homecoming,” he says. “It’s a dream to play against India and perform well on the field,” says Thaker, quickly adding that Virat Kohli is his favourite cricketer.

He is looking forward to playing in the city where his father once played.

Some journeys don’t end. They just come full circle. Jiten Ramanandi, 31 All-rounder Team Oman Over a decade ago, Jiten Ramanandi and Hardik Pandya shared the field in Baroda Cricket Association’s inter-club tournaments. Now the 31-year-old all-rounder will face him again as a rival. Ramanandi is in Oman’s T20 World Cup squad. “It’s my first World Cup and I’m thrilled to be here,” he says.

“I dreamt of playing for India, but destiny had other plans. It’s an honour to represent Oman on this stage.” Ramanandi, a native of Navsari district, started playing professionally at 17.

Former Baroda pacer Rakesh Patel spotted him and took him under his wing.

Ramanandi played in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy and was in line for Baroda’s U-23 team. The trajectory looked promising. Then, in 2019, businessman Chaitanya Khimji offered him a job in Oman. “I played for his company’s team in the premier division before being picked for the national squad last year,” says Ramanandi, who comes from a modest financial background. “Playing for Oman is one of the best decisions I’ve made. I earn well and get good opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.” Jay Viram Odedara, 36,Off-spinner & Ashish Ram Odedara, 34 Opening batsman and left-arm wrist spinner Team OmanPorbandar is known for two things: it’s where Mahatma Gandhi was born, and it’s where gang wars bloodied the streets through the 80s and 90s.

The coastal city has also earned its place on the cricketing map, producing talents who’ve made the journey from local nets to global stadiums. Come Monday, two cricketers from Porbandar — Jay Virambhai Odedara, 36, and Ashish Rambhai Odedara, 34 — will step onto a World Cup field.

Not in Indian blue, but in Oman’s red and green. Back in Porbandar, celebrations will centre around Duleep Cricket School, located in the heart of the city.

This is where both Odedaras honed their skills under the tutelage of the late Ram Odedra, father of current Saurashtra senior coach Niraj Odedra. Jay, an off-spinner, represented Saurashtra at U-15, U-17, U-19, U-23, and U-25 levels. He climbed every rung of the domestic ladder. Ashish, an opening batter and left-arm wrist spinner, played at U-15, U-17, and U-19. He was selected for the U-23 team but never got a game.

The path in India ended there. “They moved to Oman some eight to 10 years ago. They played for Al Turki Enterprises over there and have represented the company in many local tournaments,” says Surendra Amarkotia, who has seen their journey from the start. “Jay and Ashish would have played in the 2024 ICC T20I World Cup in the West Indies and USA. But Oman failed to qualify for the event. They have now got a chance to play in the World Cup,” he added. “No one knows any cricketer other than Ravindra Jadeja in Saurashtra. We are happy that Jay and Ashish have been included in the Oman national team. They are very good cricketers,” Amarkotia told TOI. Oman faces a brutal Group B: Australia, co-hosts Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Ireland.

They open against Zimbabwe on Monday in Colombo, then take on Ireland on Feb 14.