Centurions Gaurav Gaur and Dishant Mishra set for contrasting career paths

Gaurav Gaur and Dishant Mishra, the left-handed batsmen who both scored a century for their teams Delhi Colts and Hind Cricket Club respectively that played each other in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) Hot Weather League match on Friday, are at the different stages of their careers.

The 23-year-old Mishra, who has largely quit professional cricket after not getting an opportunity in the Delhi under-23 team and is playing for Hind only in DDCA Hot Weather cricket, scored 152 not out off 119 balls (14x4s, 11x6s) as he helped his team reach 283/4 in 40 overs.

Sumit Kumar scored unbeaten 66 off 57 balls (5x4s, 4x6s) smashing a couple of powerful hits for sixes out of the ground.

Hind had got off to a flying start through Aaryavir Sehwag, who made 29 off 33 balls, including a hooked six of Sumit Beniwal.

However, the target didn't prove enough as Delhi Colts reached 287/5 in 38 overs with Gaurav Gaur scoring 101 off 73 balls (5x4s, 9x6s) and skipper and veteran Naman Sharma 73 off 69 balls (8x4s, 3x6s). Ayush Tyagi scored a fortunate 62 off 44 balls getting several chances including one off the bowling of Vedant Sehwag at short mid-wicket.

The pitch was aiding turn, I generally open but went in at No. 3 on today. I thought that I will hit the ball which is in my range and leave the one not in my range," said Mishra, who began playing cricket under Raju Sharma at the Sehwag Cricket Academy.

Mishra, having failed to make it to Delhi age-group teams, is now focussing on preparing for exam for a job at Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

"I stopped practicing cricket and going to nets in January to focus on studies. I am playing only here in Hot Weather. Dad has two years in BSF service and after his retirement I have to don the family responsibility. I have to think practically now," says the player who goes to coaching in Laxmi Nagar for six days a week. He studies finance, general awareness among other subjects from 9 am to 11 am.

Mishra, who hurt his ankle (which got swollen) due to what he and others described as unevenness at the Chhattar Singh Ground and was unable to bowl on Friday, was quite good in studies, scoring 93% in Class 12 and then completed B. Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry from Khalsa College.

Dishant Mishra applies ice to his ankle after hurting it in one of the crevices (right) on the Chhattar Singh Ground in Delhi on Friday  

He lost hope after being ignored last year.

"Last year, I scored 210 in three innings of two matches in the Challengers (trials). Then there was a trial match at Essex Farms, where I scored 70. Couldn't find a place in the team. So I quit playing cricket. While my fellow students were doing M. Sc. and other masters subjects, I was focussing on cricket. My plan was to give it all," added Mishra who has to take the exam route as banks nowadays don't offer jobs through sports quota.

While Mishra is trying his luck away from cricket, Gaur is now trying his best to make a name for himself in Delhi cricket circuit. He has been batting aggressively. His performance in last year's T20 League where he scored 413 runs in eight matches has ensured that his name has been added to Delhi Premier League (DPL) auction draft this year.

On Friday, he raced to 101 off 73 balls with nine sixes and five fours.

He hit shots all over the ground, and a couple of his sixes came off switch hits.

His knock came after a haul of 3/34 in eight overs and his kitty included the wicket of Aaryavir Sehwag.

The player, who represented Haryana in age-group cricket in the past and has now shifted to Delhi, also slammed a 19-ball fifty in the Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament semi-finals against a strong Collage team.

In other matches played on Friday, the Ayush Doseja-led Golden Hawks, riding on Pranav Pant's 77 not out off 68 balls (10x4s, 2x6s) defeated RP Cricket Academy by 10 wickets under DL method at St Stephen's Ground A.

Sporting Club, thanks to Lalit Yadav's 65 off 36 balls and Shivam Gupta's 83 off 80, beat Ravi Brothers by 28 runs at Essex Farms; Rohtak Road Gymkhana, riding on Shreshth Yadav's 120 off 109 balls and Dhruv Kaushik's 98 off 66 balls (4x4s, 8x6s) defeated Anand Sports by five wickets at SSCA. Aarush Malhotra hit 128 off 117 and Aditya Chaudhary scored 89 off 72 for the losers.

At Haryana Cricket Academy in Chhawla, Kishan Ganj Gymkhana beat Bright CC by five wickets. At Ch. Shyam Cricket Ground, Telefunken beat Pioneer Cricket Club by 139 runs. Saurabh Deswal scored 113 (87 balls. 14x4s, 3x6s).At Talent Sports Cricket Academy, Kashmere Gate Colts beat Super Star CC by 59 runs.

Tags : DDCA, Delhi cricket, Ayush Doseja, Aaryavir Sehwag, Gaurav Gaur, Dishant Mishra, Chhattar Singh