Abu Dhabi: Mangalorean Star Nithin Mulky Selected for UAE National Cricket Team
News from Sujay Bendur
Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi (SP)
Abu Dhabi, Mar 2: Thirty Three is the age at which an international cricketer usually considers retirement options. However, for Nitin Mulky, former Karnataka Ranji player, this is the age at which he has been invited to represent the UAE national cricket team at the international level. He has so much potential in him that the age will not be able to become a hurdle for him from serving cricket for many more years to come.
No one can forget Dayananda Bangera, vibrant wicket keeper who hails from Katpady, whose skills saw to it that he represented UAE national cricket team about a decade back. Now, Bangera is one of the coaches in Abu Dhabi Cricket Academy. Nithin is the second player from Dakshina Kannada district to represent the UAE, as a member of its national cricket team.
When Nitin Gopalkrishna was born to Sunanda and A Gopalkrishna from Karnad in Mulky in the year 1975, they might not have dreamt that their son would one day go on to achieve a milestone of which every Mangalorean would be proud of.
UAE national cricket team will fly to Srilanka next week to play warm-up matches prior to its world cup qualifying round matches in South Africa in April 09. UAE will face Scotland, Bermuda, Kenya and other teams in group A in the run up to the 2011 world-cup cricket.
"I am inspired by my Dad….who was coaching me in my early days. Mom also supported me a lot and my brother also is a well known tennis ball cricket player," said Nitin, speaking to daijiworld.com in Abu Dhabi.
Nithin started playing with Seven Star Karnad, Friends Padubidri, both of which are well known Tennis Ball cricket teams. He played for Attackers tennis ball team in Banaglore.
When he was in first PUC, he started playing cricket with leather ball and continued to play for N.R.A.M.P for three years.
He then joined BPL limited in Bangalore, and joining this club happened to be the turning point in his career. The members of the club encouraged him to get exposure, as a result of which he improved his game and the real support came from the management and the cricket friends. He still remembers them and their encouragement a lot. He also played for Social Cricketers in Bangalore, which is the No. 1 team in A division, in Bangalore. Jagannath, founder of Social Cricketers, supported him a lot.
He played zonal matches in Bangalore from 1993 to 1995, KSCA Diamond Jubliee Cricket tournament in Bangalore in 1990-2000, Coca Cola trophy against Kerala, PS Ram Mohan Rao trophy, Moin-UD Dowla cricket tournament in 2000-01 and 2002-03. He was also included in the 15-member Karnataka State Ranji Team in the year 2001-02.
Nithin came to UAE in October 2004, joined as HSE Co-ordinator and Fleet Assistant in AVIS Rent A Car, Abu Dhabi. Since then, he has been playing for them.
Diploma holder in Computers and Communications, Nithin is married to Sunitha and is blessed with a son – Sohan Nithin.