Swapnil Asnodkar, fourth-highest run-scorer for RR in 2008:Scored 311 runs in 9 matches; says, ‘Playing IPL is matter of satisfaction’

Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Suryakumar Yadav are names that shone in IPL and made their place in the Indian team. But there were some players who fans gradually forgot. Read the stories of such cricketers in the IPL’s Unsung Heroes series The first name is Swapnil Asnodkar from Goa. Swapnil was part of Rajasthan Royals who won the first title in 2008. He received the Player of the Match award in the very first match. Swapnil scored 60 runs off 34 balls against Kolkata, which included 10 fours and 1 six. Swapnil scored 311 runs in 9 matches of that season and helped the team become champions. He is currently the head coach of Kerala’s Under-23 team. Swapnil Asnodkar shared his story with Dainik Bhaskar. He talked about his journey, the glitz of IPL and the pain of being dropped from the team… Football atmosphere in Goa, but was possessed by the ghost of cricket Swapnil is from Goa, where football is the most popular sport. His father and uncle played football and cricket at the club level. Swapnil said – All five brothers in my family were in sports. My aunt was a state-level athlete. There was a sports atmosphere at home since childhood. Swapnil said, “I started gully cricket with a tennis ball and that’s where I got hooked on cricket. In 9th class, I scored three centuries in three consecutive matches, then I felt I could play with a leather ball. My father sent me to a coaching camp and my career changed from there.” Swapnil shares story of IPL debut against KKR on 2008 Recalling the first season of 2008, Swapnil mentioned that he didn’t get a chance in the first four matches. But Shane Warne had said – “The opportunity will come sometime or the other, stay ready.” On May 1, 2008, there was a meeting at 12 noon before the match against KKR. Warne suddenly said – ‘’You are playing today”. Swapnil was ready. In this very match, he scored his first IPL fifty and made 60 runs. Hails Shane Warne, got the name ‘Goan Cannon’ Rajasthan Royals became champions that year. Swapnil got the name ‘Goan Cannon’. He scored 311 runs in 9 matches with 2 fifties. The opening pair of Swapnil and Graeme Smith added 418 runs, which was the best partnership of the season. Swapnil said, “There were no big stars in the team, but Shane Warne and Darren Berry created such an atmosphere that we all gave our best. After losing the first three matches, we made a comeback. Luck was also with us and we became champions. Full credit goes to Warne and the support staff.” Finger injury affected performance, opportunities became fewer The first season was spectacular, but the second season was hit by injury. During the IPL in South Africa, he suffered a ligament tear in his finger while fielding. The 10-day camp didn’t help. He couldn’t adjust to bouncy pitches and his performance was affected. In the 2009 season, Swapnil got opportunities in 8 matches, but he could only score 98 runs. After that, he got fewer opportunities in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Swapnil played his last match in 2011. He scored 9 runs off 9 balls in the match played on April 21 against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). This innings included one four. Swapnil played a total of 20 matches in his IPL career and scored 423 runs with the help of two fifties. Swapnil said, “My hard work continued, but there was no guarantee of success. I am positive minded. Millions of people dream of playing IPL, I went there and showed my prowess. People still remember me because of 2008. This is a matter of satisfaction for me.” Scored 10 thousand runs, yet didn’t find a place among probables Swapnil, who played for Goa for 17 years, said, “In 2017-18, I was the highest run-scorer in all three formats. I had scored centuries in Ranji and ODIs, yet the next year I didn’t find a place among the probable players.” “I was the first player from Goa to have scored more than 10 thousand runs across all formats. This was the association’s decision, in which I couldn’t do anything. At the age of 33, this decision didn’t make sense, but I took it in a positive way,” he further added. Now Swapnil is on Team India’s radar through coaching In 2019, Swapnil retired as a player and started coaching. He coached Goa’s Under-23 team for 4 years. He was the batting coach of Nagaland’s senior team, where the team moved from Plate Group to Elite Group. Swapnil is currently the head coach of Kerala’s Under-23 white ball team. Swapnil is also getting NCA assignments from BCCI. He said, “I want to give back what cricket has given me. I want to share my experience with the players. My goal is to coach India Under-19 or beyond. The hard work will continue.”