As 2018 drifts towards its conclusion, it can be said that the year witnessed emergence as well as the blooming of various talented players who represented Mumbai. Every player grew throughout the year and managed to become the emerging player of the year. Here's a list of many such players who were best amongst the rest in their respective sport:
If Mumbai had to be associated with a single sport, then the unanimous answer to it would be ‘cricket’. The city has produced some of the finest players the nation has seen with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Ajit Agarkar, Rohit Sharma and the list goes on. Similarly, 2018 witnessed the rise of young champion Prithvi Shaw who registered himself as the find of the year for the national team.
However, on the other hand, right-hand batsman Siddhesh Lad managed to make his mark for Mumbai Cricket team.
Throughout the 2017/18 season, Siddhesh Lad has scored 652 runs with a high score of 123 runs in seven matches and 12 innings. Lad smashed three centuries and three fifties with an average of 59.27 for Mumbai throughout the season. Playing for Mumbai, the 26-year-old has scored 3461 runs for his team with a consistent average of 44.37 in 46 matches.
In his previous five matches for Mumbai, the current team skipper has hit two fifties along with two centuries. The first one came against Baroda and the another one came against Saurashtra. The right-hand batsman made his first-class debut in 2013 for Mumbai against Punjab on November 7.
Football in India does not require to be acknowledged anymore as ‘an emerging sport’ as the sport has strongly developed itself over the last few years. Social media has played a vital role in bringing the audience to the sport and accordingly, the fans have started taking a keen interest in Indian football. One of the two major football leagues in the country, Indian Super League (ISL) has played a crucial part in delivering the sports to the fans.
And accordingly, Mumbai's very own ISL franchise Mumbai City FC (MCFC) has become to football fans what Mumbai Indians is to cricket fans. With a fantastic run throughout the 2018/19 season, the team also known as ‘The Islanders’, is currently sitting on the second spot on the points table and has established itself as a strong contender to win this season.
Playing for Mumbai City FC, two players have proved to be assets for the Islanders, i.e. Modou Sougou and Amrinder Singh. With nine goals for Mumbai City FC, Modou Sougou has provided the team with a couple of close victories and is also ranked second on the list of most goals this season. Sougou has been a definite worthy buy for Mumbai as he has proved his mettle in crucial matches.
Whereas on the other hand, with gloves on his hands, goalkeeper Amrinder Singh has made 34 saves for Mumbai City FC which has provided Mumbai with a rock-solid defense. The goalkeeper's safe hands have placed him on the top of the list for most saves this season. Amrinder Singh has been associated with Mumbai City FC since 2016. The keeper had started as a striker but eventually turned out to be a goalkeeper.
The Indian badminton scenario saw an expansion on its horizon after it was no longer dependent for medals only on Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu to deliver. On April 9, Chirag Shetty, a Commonwealth Games debutant bagged a silver medal in the doubles event with assistance from partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
The 1997-born lad is a student of Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, India (N.M. College).
The player also was a part of the mixed team that won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2018. As per the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Men’s Doubles rankings (December 13, 2018), Shetty and Rankireddy have been placed 18th on the list which is their career best, as well.
In 2018 Commonwealth Games held at Gold Coast, Australia, Sanil Shankar Shetty was inducted in the Indian team as a last moment replacement and bagged a gold medal in men's team event with Sharath Kamal, Anthony Amalraj, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran & Harmeet Desai. The 29-year-old player won bronze in Men's doubles event with Harmeet Desai.
Shetty was brought in to the team as a replacement for Soumyajit Ghosh and after which, he proved his mettle by bagging the bronze in a doubles event and pulled off a stunning upset to win gold for India in the India Men’s team event.
While this is just a mere representation of talent hidden in Mumbai players, it is expected that several such gems will emerge in the upcoming year too. After all, the city of dreamers will never cease producing dreamers who strive to be the best.
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