Singapore-based CricKingdom took another step towards expansion on December 6 as it launched its 72nd branch at The Perse School, located at 58 Chestnut Dr. CricKingdom, co-founded by Singapore’s own Chetan Suryawanshi, is endorsed by Indian cricket icon and ex-skipper Rohit Sharma.
“It gives me great pride to support CricKingdom — a forward-thinking force in Indian cricket. By blending traditional coaching wisdom with modern sports science, CricKingdom is shaping well-rounded cricketers ready for every format,” Rohit, also the brand ambassador of the company, said.
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CricKingdom currently has presence in six countries: India, Singapore, USA, UAE, Australia and Indonesia. It also has an academy in Pune, alongside its presence in 17 cities across the country.
Apart from Sharma and Suryawanshi, who is also the CEO, it also boasts of former international Dhawal Kulkarni, who works in a dual capacity of Mentor-Director.
“It started as a dream — to create a strong ecosystem for coaches and provide world-class facilities for every athlete,” Chetan Suryawanshi told Connected to India.
“Today, I feel this is just the beginning. There is so much more to build, so much more to achieve, and so many areas of the game where we can still grow.
“The journey continues, and the vision only gets bigger,” the former Singapore skipper added.
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The branch inauguration at The Perse School was graced by The Hitman’s father, Gurunath Sharma, and brother, Vishal Sharma, who shared fun facts about the ace batter. Johan Stromsater and Anip Sharma, Co-CEOs at The Perse School, Singapore; Mahmud Ghaznavi, President of Singapore Cricket Association; and Suryawanshi also attended the event.
Known for his selfless and aggressive style of play, Gurunath Sharma said that his older son has always played his cricket that way, coming through the ranks in Mumbai, the hub of cricket in India. Rohit, who is famed for his ‘lazy elegance’, made a name for himself in the domestic circuit before being picked in the national side.
Vishal spoke about the personal side of Rohit and the bond they share. The younger brother said that despite his fame, the former Indian skipper stays grounded.
The father-son duo also named their favourite Rohit Sharma innings. While Gurunath picked Rohit’s maiden Test ton as the former’s best, Vishal named the 264-run ODI innings as his sibling’s best.
Interestingly, both Rohit’s first Test ton, which he hit in his first Test match, and the aforementioned ODI score, came at the same venue: the iconic Eden Gardens. The Test century (177 runs) was scored against the West Indies in November 2013, while the ODI double century, the second of his stellar career, came a year later against Sri Lanka. Though Sharma went on to score another century in the following Test match in Mumbai, the series also marked the end of Sachin Tendulkar’s glorious career.
Gurunath also inaugurated the branch by cutting the ribbon alongside Stromsater earlier in the day.
