Faith Moldan

For the first time ever, SDSU’s cricket team, made up mainly of graduate students from India, competed in the Cricket Lite Tournament in Fargo, and walked away with first place.

SDSU’s cricket team competed against five teams: North Dakota State University-A, North Dakota State University-B, Fargo-Moorhead Community-Concordia, University of North Dakota and Minnesota State University-Moorhead. This is the 7th year that the tournament was held.

“I feel really proud to be a member of the team that brought glory to SDSU. We never lost our cool, maybe that’s the secret to our victory,” vice captain Roby Behanan said.

Cricket, an English sport, is played year round in India except during the rainy months between June and September. In the United Kingdom and Australia, it is played during the summer months. The SDSU cricket team also plays during the summer when team members’ schedules are not as busy and there is more daylight and warm weather. They can usually be found playing on weekends on the Campanile Green.

Cricket has been an active club sport for three years at SDSU. When they play together, the group is split randomly so that the players can get to know one another’s strengths and weaknesses.

“We really did a good job and played as a team bringing a great result and tons of memories back to Brookings,” team member Chirag Shukla said.

SDSU defeated NDSU-A in the semi-finals and FMC-C in the championship game. Besides a team trophy, some outstanding players received a “man of the match” individual trophy.

“Winning the tournament for SDSU was one of the best moments in my life,” said Sriramulu Pasikanti, a team member. “I think it was the perfect ending for this cricket season.”

The teams played on a turf football ground and a full-fledged cricket field. They improvised, using tennis balls wrapped with white electrical tape.

“There was a single red tape in the center so the ball looked beautiful, and it did,” Shukla said.

The SDSU team members paid their own $150 tournament fee.

“Our team spirit, motivation and togetherness paid off in style. The enjoyment, closeness and strong team effort we placed on the table were beyond anybody’s expectations,” Shukla said.

#1.885996:1811028934.jpg:cricket1.jpg:Members of the SDSU Cricket team celebrate with their championship trophy.: