Mallick lets one rip during net practice at Islam Gymkhana. Pic/Atul Kamble

"The first time I went there," Mallick says, "I felt a bit lost in the sea of cricketers dressed in white. But then I approached a man teaching his son, telling him that I was looking to practise on a regular basis. He told me to come back the next morning and meet a coach named Prashant Shetty. I did. Prashant sir liked what he saw and directed me to MIG Club in Bandra, where I started daily net sessions."

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.86%

AAP 41.43%

INC 25.71%

Submit

View All In Poll

That's what put him on track to playing B-division matches for Islam Gymkhana. But Mallick had to cross one final hurdle before that. He needed to get a job to survive in this ruthlessly expensive city. Thankfully, he learnt of an opening at Yugo Sushi. The only problem was that he was clueless about food. But the restaurant's Japanese owner, Yugo Tokuchi, personally taught him the ropes for a month. "After that, I started practising with takeaway orders while my seniors guided me, till I reached a point where I was confident of taking orders even from walk-in customers," he says.

So that's where Mallick stands at this point in his life. His job doesn't pay a jaw-dropping salary. But it offers him the flexibility he needs to pursue his passion. His hope of playing under-23 state cricket has been quashed due to bureaucratic hurdles in acquiring a Maharashtra Cricket Association card. But his performance in the ongoing tournament means that other, bigger clubs now have him on their radar. The youngster thus feels that Mumbai has granted him 50 per cent of his wishes. But he adds that this is only the beginning. "I feel like I have a lot more to achieve," Mallick says, indicating that the man from the land of MS Dhoni is here to play a long innings.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates