CM Gautam’s enduring dream to put on the whites once more takes him to First-Class cricket in Sri Lanka

Former Karnataka captain C.M. Gautam has taken the lengthy and arduous route again to First-Class cricket. Gautam’s long-held want to put on the whites was fulfilled when he took the sphere for Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club in Sri Lanka’s Major League Tournament.

The wicketkeeper-batter performed two matches for the membership in June, earlier than returning to Bengaluru because the match was paused to accommodate the 2023 Lanka Premier League.

Gautam, 37, will fly to Sri Lanka on Wednesday to finish his Major League Tournament season.

Slightly over three years in the past, Gautam was amongst these chargesheeted in connection to corruption allegations within the 2019 Karnataka Premier League.

The case put a halt to Gautam’s profession. He final represented Karnataka in October 2019, in a List A recreation in opposition to Goa.

In early 2022, issues seemed up for Gautam when the Karnataka High Court quashed the chargesheet. This cleared the way in which for his re-entry into official cricket.

Even throughout these robust instances, Gautam held on to the dream.

“Even in my worst period, I was motivated to get back to playing at a high level. I had something to prove,” Gautam informed Sportstar right here on Monday.

“The hunger to play cricket never went away. I visualised playing First-Class cricket, be it in the Ranji Trophy or elsewhere. I’ve played matches for Bank of Baroda – I’ve kept in touch with the game. Physically I’m still in good shape. It feels great to be back,” Gautam added.

On competing in Sri Lanka, Gautam mentioned, “The standard is very high. It is a challenge to adapt to the new conditions.”

Gautam was a standout performer throughout codecs in his 11-year profession with the Karnataka senior crew. He typically rescued the aspect with stellar performances with the bat, and his clear wicketkeeping and rallying calls from behind the stumps made him an asset.

He struck a career-high unbeaten 264 in opposition to Maharashtra within the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy – a season the place he completed because the second highest run-scorer of the match. Gautam was an integral a part of the Karnataka crew which twice received three home titles in a single season (2013-14 and 2014-15).

These highlights could also be a decade previous, however Gautam is assured that he nonetheless has lots to supply.