When Sachin Tendulkar started playing cricket at a very young age, he made the news. Now, a three year old Shlok Hazare, is perhaps the youngest player of the City & in the history of cricket, to step on to the cricket ground in proper cricket kit and to receive a certificate for his enthusiasm in cricket coaching.
Born on 25th May 2009 and studying in Podar Jumbo Kids Plus; in the Nursery class, Santacruz, he excelled in Sports organized by Play Group (Tiny Tots). He has also Won 1st Prize in two events & a certificate for completing Summer Workshop 2012 (Jack N Jill Activity Centre Summer Camp 2012) conducted by Podar School.
Like other kids of his age, Shlok is not interested in toys; but, his only interest is a cricket bat & ball. He enjoys watching television. His favorite watch is cricket matches; but, sometimes enjoys watching cartoons. During this summer vacation, Mr. Azim Khan, Head Coach, Police Gymkhana, has trained him in batting, while Mr. Sandesh Chavan (Asst. Coach, Police Gymkhana) has offered training to him in Bowling and fielding. Shlok’s skills in this game are specially admired by Mr. Vidyadhar Paradkar (Sr. Coach) & Mr. Mahesh Yetkar (Coach, Level – 1, M.C.A.). According to them, his follow through action after bowling a ball, is something amazing. Mr. Arvind Kadam of Sind Cricket Club showed his willingness to register Shlok for his Club.
Shlok, is the son of Seema & Satish Hajare, who live in Vile Parle, Mumbai. But, during vacation, his father admitted him for coaching him cricket; making him the youngest kid to attend the camp and that too with proven results. “There was a big problem to select a suitable bat for little Shlok, but it was specially designed and made by Ashraf, the Sports goods manufacturer. Even the clothing gears like Pads and Gloves were designed by Omtex, whom I approached, since, I was not finding his size in the market,” said his father, while speaking to magzmumbai.
Describing his enthusiasm in cricket, his Cricket coach Azeem K. Khan says, “Shlok Hajare was under my coaching in Summer Cricket Coaching Camp 2012 at Mumbai Police Gymkhana. As per my cricket career & coaching experience since last so many years, I have seen something different in this boy. At the age of 3, he is having extra power, good stamina & totally different body language. I have seen he is having very sharp grasping power. He is having his own style of playing cricket. If I give any instructions to him, he will ask me questions on that particular subject. He is probably the youngest boy in the history of cricket to start cricket at the age of 3. I wish him all the best…”
His father too pointed out few examples of his keen interest in this game.“ Shlok was presented with loads of toys on his 2nd birthday, but he never even played with them. In fact, he made use of the remote for tossing it and catching like a cricket ball. Even sometimes, he used to take the broom in his hand and use it like a cricket bat practicing all his strokes of cricket at home. Cricket is almost like a passion for him at this small age,” he concludes.