Eliza Khan ('26)
South Brunswick High School junior Adit Kappa has earned a place in the East Coast Youth Cricket League (EYCL), a cricket league where teams of various ages compete. Each age group differs in match formats and tournaments. Kappa serves his current U19 team as an all-rounder.
Kappa said, “I always knew I loved sports. I started off playing the sports soccer, baseball, Ice hockey, and basketball. When I first started playing these sports I lost interest in them one by one. Cricket was always playing on the TV since I grew up in an Indian household. My brother was the one to ask my dad if he could try out the sport. When I was younger I always wanted to do what my brother was doing and so gave the sport a try and loved it, and I was extremely blessed for some things in the sport to come easy for me, and the sport has stuck with me and I don’t think I will stop loving the sport.”
Moreover, Kappa’s passion for cricket became something larger when the EYCL was brought into the picture.
Kappa said, “I first earned my position in the league when I was very young, about 8 years old. Before I was given the chance to play in this tournament I used to watch my brother and his teammates dominate, and I always aspired to do so when I got the chance to play in it. I started off in the U12s and kept working my way up this ladder.”
Though cricket is a bat and ball game similar to baseball, it is considered more complex and one of the most intricate sports. It requires specialized techniques, understanding, and strategies in the field. The game is played between two teams of eleven players. The batting team aims to score runs while the fielding team tries to prevent it.
Kappa said, “Before a big match when I wake up in the morning and I visualize how I want my day to go and always try to use the adrenaline that comes with these games in a good way, hyping myself up whenever I think about us winning the game and wanting that to become a reality. Before the game and on the way to the game I listen to music to get my nerves down and get in the right headspace for the game. Before a big tournament, my practice routines stay the same and don’t really differ from tournament to tournament, except practicing to adapt to conditions.”
If someone aspires to become a part of a sport or league, it is highly recommended to pursue that interest. Youth leagues are a good groundwork for students to develop their skills, receive mentorship, leadership skills, and practice a good work ethic. These skills are crucial for professional sports positions and general careers.
Kappa said, “If you are ever playing a sport and it starts to get serious, never stop enjoying it. I try to make my younger self proud every time I step on the field and never stop taking in the blessed situation I am in to be playing this amazing game. The friendships that you create from team to team last for a very long time, and can even last a lifetime.”
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