An elated Aman Mokhade packed his bags with a champion's smile. Vidarbha had just clinched their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title, defeating Saurashtra in the final on Sunday in Bengaluru. For Mokhade, the victory tasted even sweeter.
A Record-Breaking Batting Spree
Along with lifting the coveted trophy, Mokhade's blistering run with the bat etched his name into the record books. He became only the third cricketer in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy to score 800 runs in a single season.
Mokhade joined an elite list featuring Prithvi Shaw and Narayan Jagadeesan. Both players had previously breached the 800-run mark in the tournament. The Vidarbha batsman finished the season with a staggering 814 runs from just 10 matches.
He maintained an impressive average of 90.44, including five centuries. This phenomenal performance crowned him as the highest run-getter of the entire competition.
Life-Changing Encounters with Legends
Mokhade said he felt immense gratitude for spending time with legends Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. He believes these experiences played a key role in shaping his current mindset and approach to cricket.
"Meeting Virat bhaiya and Dhoni sir completely changed my approach to the game," Mokhade revealed in an exclusive interview.
The opportunities came during net sessions ahead of international matches. In 2015, he bowled to Virat Kohli before a Test match against South Africa in Nagpur. A similar situation arose in 2017, when he bowled to MS Dhoni before an ODI against Australia, also in Nagpur.
Learning from the Masters
"I was grateful to have shared those moments with the legends of the game," Mokhade said. "I am a proper batter, but I was given the responsibility to bowl to them. I spoke to both of them briefly and learned a lot."
He emphasized how watching them closely transformed his perspective. Observing their footwork, eye contact, body language, and overall approach left a lasting impact.
"Watching them closely completely changed the way I look at the game," he admitted. "The composure and calmness in my batting today come from watching them. I feel fortunate to have been born in the eras of Dhoni and Kohli."
Mokhade acknowledged that every young cricketer dreams of such interactions. "Every kid has that dream. Even while they are just knocking or shadow-practising, there is so much to learn from them."
The Maiden Trophy and Future Hopes
Winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Vidarbha remains the pinnacle of his achievements so far. "Winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Vidarbha is the biggest feeling for me," Mokhade stated with pride.
He expressed hope for more successes. "Hopefully, we win many more trophies for Vidarbha. The road ahead looks very competitive, but we have immense belief in our team. The journey from here promises to be an exciting one."
Family Support and Academic Pressure
Mokhade comes from a family of doctors and professors. Academic pressure was always present, but his father, Ravindra Mokhade, pushed him towards cricket.
Ravindra had always aspired to become a cricketer himself. Financial constraints meant that dream remained unfulfilled. One day, he saw his son Aman striking a ball with a plastic bat in their backyard. In that moment, he saw his own dream reflected in his son.
"My father supported me a lot and always saw that dream in me," the 25-year-old explained. "He is extremely proud of what I've achieved. My aunts are doctors, my uncle is a professor, and my father did his MBA and works as a project manager."
He credited his father's unwavering support. "There was academic pressure on me, but my father always pushed me to go to the ground and play cricket. His support has been immense, and whatever I am today is because of him."
Message to Selectors and Future Focus
After finishing as the highest run-getter, Mokhade has sent a clear message to the national selectors. His performances are a loud knock on the door of opportunity.
However, he prefers to stay grounded. "I just want to live in the present and keep performing for my team," Mokhade said. "That approach usually works for me because when I think too far ahead, things don't always fall into place."
He outlined his simple philosophy. "I want to play every game with the same intensity, do what I do best, and focus on winning that match. That's the thought process I want to follow."
Acknowledging Coaching Guidance
Mokhade also expressed deep gratitude towards his coaches for their role in his success. "I am grateful to have had good coaches in my career. Umesh Patwal sir has been there, and so has Jwala sir," he said.
He met Jwala sir a couple of years ago and received significant support. "He has supported me a lot. He has provided all the facilities a cricketer should get — a decent ground, proper equipment, and more."
As Vidarbha celebrates its historic win, Aman Mokhade stands as a testament to dedication, family support, and learning from the very best in the game.
