Nagaland born Karnataka Ranji and Indian Railways star batsman Rongsen Jonathan's cricket journey. He is now, all set to join a new team, with a cause. CricKarnataka Exclusive Interview.
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| Rongsen Jonathan |
All the way from the football loving Nagaland to cricket crazy Karnataka, and then moving on to play for the Indian Railways, here is an interesting journey of Rongsen Jonathan who hails from the North Eastern part of India, a story of someone who chose cricket over football and went on to play the prestigious Ranji Trophy for two different teams and is now set a join a new team, his home team Nagaland and is about to create a revolution in cricket in the Northeastern state.
Back home, Jonathan is a local celebrity and very popular among the youth of Nagaland. He was recently awarded by the Nagaland government during their first ever Red Carpet awards. Jonathan was awarded under the sports category.
Jonathan has played 7 first class,17 List A matches and 13 T20s in the domestic circuit. He has been a regular fixture in the Karnataka Premier league where he has the distinction of being the all time 2nd highest run getter with 959 runs in 45 matches, only behind Mayank Agarwal.
Back home, Jonathan is a local celebrity and very popular among the youth of Nagaland. He was recently awarded by the Nagaland government during their first ever Red Carpet awards. Jonathan was awarded under the sports category.
Jonathan has played 7 first class,17 List A matches and 13 T20s in the domestic circuit. He has been a regular fixture in the Karnataka Premier league where he has the distinction of being the all time 2nd highest run getter with 959 runs in 45 matches, only behind Mayank Agarwal.
BCCI, on recommendation of the Lodha Committee has set up a new stage for the North Eastern Indian states to be part of the Ranji Trophy. All these states would play in a plate group and the toppers would proceed to feature in the elite group, which is the main Ranji Trophy league.
CricKarnataka caught up with Jonathan and here is what he has to say about his journey.
So now that BCCI has decided to allow the Northeastern states to be part of the Ranji Trophy, how do you think it's going to make an impact on cricket in that part of the country.
This is a welcome move by the BCCI, they have made an effort to develop cricket in these states in the last few years. I have decided that I would be playing for my home team, Nagaland. And this is the first time I'm revealing this news to anyone. I have already played for Karnataka and the Indian Railways and now that I have an opportunity to play for my home state, I would surely want to play for them and I hope we could do well and qualify for the main group and thereby bring about a change in cricket in that part of the country.
This is a welcome move by the BCCI, they have made an effort to develop cricket in these states in the last few years. I have decided that I would be playing for my home team, Nagaland. And this is the first time I'm revealing this news to anyone. I have already played for Karnataka and the Indian Railways and now that I have an opportunity to play for my home state, I would surely want to play for them and I hope we could do well and qualify for the main group and thereby bring about a change in cricket in that part of the country.
Well, you don't often see many Northeastern Cricketers in the Indian cricket circuit, so take us around your early life and tell us how cricket started for you.
I was born in my home state, Nagaland and when I was young, my family moved to Bangalore and I started my schooling here. In my neighborhood I used to play tennis ball cricket. When I was in my 7th standard, I started leather ball cricket in my school and I was pretty good in my batting and that's how it all started.
I had very good batting skills and I was spotted by the Karnataka Institute of Cricket and they offered me a scholarship and I was given free coaching there. It was here, where I actually improved my techniques and this helped me a lot in shaping my cricket career.
I was born in my home state, Nagaland and when I was young, my family moved to Bangalore and I started my schooling here. In my neighborhood I used to play tennis ball cricket. When I was in my 7th standard, I started leather ball cricket in my school and I was pretty good in my batting and that's how it all started.
I had very good batting skills and I was spotted by the Karnataka Institute of Cricket and they offered me a scholarship and I was given free coaching there. It was here, where I actually improved my techniques and this helped me a lot in shaping my cricket career.
Tell us about your career as a professional cricketer, when did you decide to take cricket as a career.
I was very young, may be 16 or 17 and I was picked up by the Swatik Union Cricket Club and I played the KSCA first division league. I also played in various age groups for karnataka, like the under 16s, under 19s and later went on to represent the senior Karnataka team. In the first season of the Karnataka Premier League, I played for Mangalore United and later I played for Belagavi Panthers and recently I even played for Namma Shivamogga.
I was very young, may be 16 or 17 and I was picked up by the Swatik Union Cricket Club and I played the KSCA first division league. I also played in various age groups for karnataka, like the under 16s, under 19s and later went on to represent the senior Karnataka team. In the first season of the Karnataka Premier League, I played for Mangalore United and later I played for Belagavi Panthers and recently I even played for Namma Shivamogga.
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| in Belagavi Panthers |
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| in Mysuru Warriors. |
How did your parents support you in your cause, that is your cricket passion.
My parents were supportive and they encouraged me. When I was in my high school, my parents had to leave for Nagaland, but my love towards cricket made sure that I stood back in Bangalore and continued to play cricket here. Later I got an opportunity to play for the Indian Railways, so I moved on from Karnataka team, to play for the railways team and there I continued playing. All my family members are well educated, my dad is a professor and so is one of my brothers, the other 3 brothers are also well educated and it's only me who hasn't studied much.
"But Jona, it doesn't matter if you haven't made it in this field, because we know you have achieved a lot in cricket and reached heights which are a dream to most of the people."
My parents were supportive and they encouraged me. When I was in my high school, my parents had to leave for Nagaland, but my love towards cricket made sure that I stood back in Bangalore and continued to play cricket here. Later I got an opportunity to play for the Indian Railways, so I moved on from Karnataka team, to play for the railways team and there I continued playing. All my family members are well educated, my dad is a professor and so is one of my brothers, the other 3 brothers are also well educated and it's only me who hasn't studied much.
"But Jona, it doesn't matter if you haven't made it in this field, because we know you have achieved a lot in cricket and reached heights which are a dream to most of the people."
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| Jonathan while playing for the Indian Rialways |
So coming back to cricket back home, now that you will be playing for Nagaland, what is your preparation for that, tell us something about that.
Well, we have a good team back home and most of them are excited to be playing at such a level. Once I'm done with this year's Karnataka premier league, I will going back to Nagaland and join the team. Then we will start our preparation for the big tournament that is going to happen and try to give our best over there.
Well, we have a good team back home and most of them are excited to be playing at such a level. Once I'm done with this year's Karnataka premier league, I will going back to Nagaland and join the team. Then we will start our preparation for the big tournament that is going to happen and try to give our best over there.
What is the current state of cricket back home. What are your efforts to bring about a change there.
Until last few years it was all football over there, but in recent years cricket is overtaking football and we say a lot of youngsters showing interest in the game. This a very promising move because if they are good enough then they might probably be making a career out of cricket .
And coming back, I would try to put all my experience and try make the best of it. Since I have played the highest level of domestic cricket I have had a fair amount of knowledge about the game and this will surely be helpful to be shared with those youngsters. And if everything goes as per the plan, we could probably be making our debut into the Ranji Trophy and that would make a very positive impact on cricket in the State.
Until last few years it was all football over there, but in recent years cricket is overtaking football and we say a lot of youngsters showing interest in the game. This a very promising move because if they are good enough then they might probably be making a career out of cricket .
And coming back, I would try to put all my experience and try make the best of it. Since I have played the highest level of domestic cricket I have had a fair amount of knowledge about the game and this will surely be helpful to be shared with those youngsters. And if everything goes as per the plan, we could probably be making our debut into the Ranji Trophy and that would make a very positive impact on cricket in the State.
How has playing in Karnataka changed your life ?
Staying in Bangalore was probably the reason I chose to play cricket and I have been here for most of my life and this place has provided me a lot of opportunities. I don't think many people back in my state would be getting the kind of exposure that you get here. Since I have been playing cricket in Karnataka for a long time and have consistently been part of the KPL as well so most of them in the cricket circuit recognize me. Most of them from the Karnataka team are my friends and I have played along with them for quite some time. I have learnt a lot in all these years and this is the experience I want to share with all the youngsters back home and hope that it will give a positive outcome.
Staying in Bangalore was probably the reason I chose to play cricket and I have been here for most of my life and this place has provided me a lot of opportunities. I don't think many people back in my state would be getting the kind of exposure that you get here. Since I have been playing cricket in Karnataka for a long time and have consistently been part of the KPL as well so most of them in the cricket circuit recognize me. Most of them from the Karnataka team are my friends and I have played along with them for quite some time. I have learnt a lot in all these years and this is the experience I want to share with all the youngsters back home and hope that it will give a positive outcome.
We would want to hear from you, about our CricKarnataka initiative, if you could tell what you feel about us.
Well, CricKarnataka is a doing a very good job. This is very good start and I believe it's the start of something interesting. I hope that this continues well and make sure that the page reaches more people not only Karnataka but the whole world. I wish you all the best.
Well, CricKarnataka is a doing a very good job. This is very good start and I believe it's the start of something interesting. I hope that this continues well and make sure that the page reaches more people not only Karnataka but the whole world. I wish you all the best.
Jonathan has proved that it doesn't matter where you come from or what your background is for someone to be part of a particular sport. If your passionate enough and ready to face challenges then there is nothing that could stop one from achieving his goal. Jonathan has overcome all odds and has reached great heights and is now set to inspire more people. Jonathan surely deserves a special place in the books of Indian cricket and most importantly a pride to our Karnataka as well.
Thank you Jonathan, for speaking to us.
Thank you Jonathan, for speaking to us.
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