Dubai: Deepak Nicholas did a Yuvraj Singh (or a Sir Gary Sobers, if you like) at the Sevens ground last week.
Playing for Roaring Lions team, the 37-year-old hit six sixes in an over at Dubai Cricket Council’s Ramadan League
Nicholas who has a Master’s Degree in Business Management, works as the business head in brand management for the Gulf at Enhance. Despite his tight work schedule, he makes it a point to play in the UAE’s domestic tournaments regularly. “I am an amateur cricketer who loves cricket and it feels fantastic to have hit those sixes. Frankly it was never in my mind to hit six sixes, but when I hit two consecutive sixes, a few around me challenged me and I went for it.”
Nicholas came to bat at No. 4 and began his six-hitting spree against off spinner Karan Tekwani in the 11th over. When asked whether he was nervous when he hit his fifth six about emulating greats like Sobers, Ravi Shastri and Yuvraj Singh, Nicholas said: “I hit the first six over the bowlers head, second went over long on and third I hit to midwicket, fourth went over long off and fifth again to midwicket and the final one I stepped out and hit it over long on. I was in my mood and frankly did not care whether I achieved it [the feat] or not. The unfortunate part is, since no one thought that I would hit six sixes, no one took a video of it.”
However, though Nicholas hit 49 runs off just 12 balls, his knock went in vain. “My team was chasing White Caps’ huge total of 234 for nine in 25 overs and we lost the match by 18 runs. I am thrilled to receive a special award for this achievement from DCC. I am thankful to DCC for providing a quality cricket tournament and a platform for cricket lovers like me,” he said.
Nicholas, born in Kerala, grew up in Bengaluru before taking up a job in the Gulf. Playing in Oman Cricket League, he had once hit an unbeaten 168. Incidentally, this is the second time in the history of DCC tournaments that a batsman has hit six sixes. Prashant Braggs, who also hails from Bengaluru, representing Yogi Group Cricket Club had hit Anil Adnani of Interface for six sixes in the Arabian Cricket League in 2011.
Nicholas was a Bangalore University Basketball player before falling in love with cricket.
“I have also bagged a hat-trick in the DCC Weekend Slammers tournament at the ICC ground against Dubai Mammoths recently and last month I bagged the Player of the Tournament award in the DCC Summer League,” said Nicholas, who believes that anyone who loves cricket and enjoys playing it with devotion can achieve such rare honours.
