The journey of Dayananda Garani: From farming to Team India’s new throw down specialist for Australia tour

Dayananda Garani will replace Raghavendra as a throw down specialist for Indian team for the upcoming tour to Australia.

Xtra Time Web Desk: Meet Dayananda Garani, the son of a peasant family from Jamitya village in East Midnapore in Bengal who will be traveling with Virat Kohli and his team for the upcoming tour to Australia. You must be wondering in which capacity Dayananda will travel to Australia with the Indian touring party. This Kings XI Punjab masseur cum throw down specialist will replace Team India’s regular throw down specialist Raghavendra who will not be able to travel Down Under due to coronavirus.

The 28 year old curly haired Dayananda possess a rare quality of having expertise in message therapist as well as giving throw downs with both hands. His struggle to landing up a contract (temporary though) with Team India as a support staff member is quite awe inspiring. If he could not find an income in cricket, he might have had to choose a family farming job. Dayananda loved cricket since his childhood and bowled right arm pace. He used to travel from Kolaghat to the cricket camp at Friends of the Stadium in Kolkata, with a dream to become a cricketer. But financial constraints stopped him from travelling daily from Kolaghat to Kolkata. So, he started training under local coach Kaushik Bhowmik at a cost of 20 rupees per month.

Dayananda played in the second division league of CAB for Baranagar Sporting. He switched to clubs like White Border, Maury Sporting before getting an opportunity in Kolkata Police team. Devraj Nahata, the captain of the police team, arranged a job for him in the Green Police. It was during this time, Dayananda had a conversation with current Bengal Ranji team physical trainer. With his encouragement, Dayanand started a new innings as a masseur and throw-down specialist. He joined the Andhra Pradesh cricket team in 2016. At Sanjeev’s suggestion, Dayananda started bowling in the net with his right and left hands. He also had a stint at the NCA before landing up a contract with Kings XI Punjab ahead of IPL 2020.

He soon caught the eye of everyone at the KXIP training with his ability to give throw downs with both hands something which is a very rare quality. Indian cricketers in the Punjab team, the likes of KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Mohammed Shami were mighty impressed with his ability at the KXIP practice sessions. It was on their reference Dayananda got this huge break. He has been asked to stay back in Dubai so that he is not out of the bio bubble.

As Virat Kohli and his team starts preparing for a rigorous tour to Australia, a little known Dayananda too will play his part keeping the Indians cricketers fit and helping them prepare with his throw downs.