The cricketer side of Ballari Tuskers owner Arvind Venkatesh Reddy. From playing in KPL to owning a KPL team, here is the cricket story of the Ballari Tuskers new mentor.

Arvind Venkatesh Reddy

Arvind Venkatesh Reddy is a name that most people associate with business and as the owner of the Karnataka Premier League's Ballari Tuskers franchise.
    But did you know that Arvind Venkatesh Reddy was himself a cricketer and that he played in the KPL. Apart from that he also played in the KSCA division league and also the Indian team in the advocates cricket tournament. Now he all set to mentor his KPL team.
   CricKarnataka gets a chance to speak to Arvind Venkatesh Reddy, and to know about his early cricket life and also about his team the Ballari Tuskers.

Arvind sir, tell us about your team the Ballari Tuskers. How was the auction and what are your preparations for this 2018 Karnataka Premier League.
      We had done our homework before entering the auction and we had a pretty good auction day and we got all the players that we wanted and we have a balanced side. We even have Irfan Sait as our coach and having such a person would surely be a plus point for the team.
      And if everything goes our way, then we might probably repeat 2016.
(Ballari Tuskers were the KPL Champions in 2016)

How is it different from playing in the league and owning a team, tell us about that.
    In the first season of the KPL, I was part of the Bijapur Bulls franchise and I played like any other player. I also had to follow all the rules that a player has to follow. I didn't have a good season that year.
    As a team management we are here to give chance to young and mofussil players, give them all we could. Then sit back and enjoy the game of cricket. That's what we are doing now.

Tell us about your early life and about your cricket journey from your childhood.
   I was born and bought up here in Bangalore. I studied at Frank Anthony School in Bangalore and I started playing school cricket there. Later when I joined college, I played cricket there as well. So every tournament concerned with the school and college, I was there and that's where it all started.
   Later I played in the KSCA Division League. I played for Neptune cricket club which was in 3rd division. Me and my team were instrumental in promoting the team to the 2nd division, so that's about my early cricket career.

Tell us about playing in the advocates cricket tournament, and tell us a few things  about that tournament.
     I played for the advocates Indian team and have been to different countries. I started in 2010 and have played in Barbados West Indies, Australia and Delhi.
     There is a world cup that happens from these advocates who are also Cricketers, and that happens once in every two years and all the Commonwealth countries take part in it, and I'm really glad that I have been part of this Indian world cup team, and in the last edition of the tournament that took place in Sri Lanka, I led the Indian team so its one of the proud moments in my life.

Tell us about your new responsibility as team mentor of the Ballari Tuskers.
   Mentoring is something that I'm doing for the first time. I would want to share my experience and whatever little I have, with the youngsters. And if these people make it to the next level on my influence then it's a big thing for me, so it's all in the process and have to wait for the results when the KPL starts.

Do you still play cricket? If so tell us about that.
  Well, I have stopped playing professional cricket. Now, just to keep myself fit, I play cricket. May be playing the lower leagues is something that could keep me connected to cricket. So that's about my cricket life is for this point of time.

Tell us something about what you feel about CricKarnataka.
  I'm very happy that youngsters like you are doing this job. You are taking initiatives, and with all your efforts, you will make every individual playing in  Karnataka a hero.
  Today's youngsters are looking forward to be seen everywhere and I'm gald and proud that you are doing this. I wish you continue to do this and help Karnataka cricket to grow even higher.

Thank you so much Arvind Sir for speaking to CricKarnataka, it's been a pleasure speaking to you and knowing things about you that most people don't. Hope this article reaches more people and make sure that more people know about your special cricket talent.