Pratham Singh: An engineer-turned-cricketer who is pursuing MBA
The Indian Express | 2 days ago | 07-06-2023 | 12:45 pm
The Indian Express
2 days ago | 07-06-2023 | 12:45 pm
Three years ago, locked in his flat with no cricket and absolutely nothing much to do, Railways top-order batsman Pratham Singh wondered what he could do to kill time. The engineer-turned-cricketer started preparing for GMAT. He passed the test, scoring 700/800, and is currently pursuing MBA from the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad.“The dream has always been to play cricket. But I think education helps you broaden your horizon. My idea of pursuing MBA is that I feel that it will help me in my cricketing game as well. The cushion will obviously help me play cricket in a better way, because I’ll be more secure now. Also, since we (cricketers) have limited careers, it would really help me know how to use my finances, diversify my funds and help me invest in start-up businesses,” the southpaw told The Indian Express.Pratham, 30, has played cricket all his life. But he has compromised when it comes to the academic front. Just like his exquisite timing with the bat, he has perfected the art of time management and has a degree in engineering as well. “Time management was something which came naturally to me. It’s all about getting up early. I train in the morning, then I have my classes. Then I do my self-study. And there’s an academy in Hyderabad called coaching beyond, I’m training there. And I play games in Delhi whenever I get the opportunity. I’m trying to play in Chennai as well this season.”The southpaw has always dreamt of playing cricket at the highest level, but at the same time he understands the importance of education and believes pursuing MBA would help him manage his finances as well as aid his cricketing career. But the juggle between cricket and study has not been easy, especially for cricketers, for whom education usually takes a backseat.“While doing engineering, I got some special permission from the university’s vice-chancellor. I was given more allowance in terms of the attendance. I used to give exams, study during the exams and play cricket throughout the season. And that is how I completed my engineering,” he said. But while doing MBA he can’t afford to skip classes and won’t get relaxation from the administration either. So when asked how he is managing it, he said: “It’s very, very intense. I am not getting the time to do anything, just training, practising and studying. It’s a very packed schedule. And I think it will help me as well to become stronger because it’s out of my comfort zone. Something which I have never done.”Since making his first-class debut in 2017, Pratham has been a lynchpin of Railways batting. He was also a part of the now-defunct IPL franchise Gujarat Lions in 2017 and after his exploits in the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022. In Syed Mushtaq Ali, he scored four consecutive fifties and accumulated 438 runs in 10 matches at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 136.02. The two stints with the different IPL franchises have helped Pratham grow as a cricketer. “I got to learn a lot with all the international and domestic legends. It was a good experience because you are sharing shoulders with all these people who were once your idol,” he revealed.Currently, Pratham runs three cricket academies and hopes to share his knowledge and experience with young players. He believes getting an MBA would help him better comprehend the sports business.“It will give me an understanding of how I can give back to athletes who are trying to grow while being able to sustain the whole ecosystem through my education here at ISB. Yeah. So in a way, it’s a win-win because of the academies I can train on my own. I’ll share my experiences of 20 years with the budding cricketers,” he said.
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