Winnipeg cricketer raising the bar for bowlers and batsmen
A Winnipeg cricketer is raising the bar for bowlers and batsmen, and now has his eyes set on the world stage.
Jatinder Matharu is the latest Manitoban to be selected to the national senior cricket team.
While he learned to play the game in India, he didn't realize his full potential in cricket until moving to Winnipeg from India at 16 years old.
Cricket brought a sense of familiarity for Matharu, but it was also an opportunity to grow his game.
“My main role was as a bowler. I wasn’t really that good as a batsman. That training helped me a lot here, right,” said Matharu, who also goes by the name Sunny.
“And then I started playing here, and my coach started focusing on my batting too, so I kind of improved on my batting as well,” said Matharu.
Recently named to the national cricket team, he's the first Manitoban to represent Canada in eight years.
Unlike those before him, Matharu played almost all of his competitive cricket in the province.
“The other players, they played high level outside, came here with the skill set, enhanced that and made the Canadian team. Sunny is, although he learned cricket as a teenager, he perfected his skill set right here in Assiniboine Park with competition here,’ said Ray Ramrattan of the Cosmos Cricket Club.
Known in cricket as an all-rounder, Matharu is described as the complete package. Building a reputation as a versatile bowler and a dangerous batsman.
In fact, his coach considers him the gold standard of cricket in Manitoba.
“Me as a manager, I’ll walk by and see a kid and then I would say, ‘That’s the next Sunny,’ and you hear other people say things like that. He’s handling it well. He is a role model without trying,” said Ramrattan.
Being a role model to the up-and-coming cricket players here in Manitoba is something Matharu is embracing as he prepares to leave his Winnipeg Cosmos Club team to join Team Canada.
“There’s also young people, young players, that are always watching me and they want to see me at that level so it’s not a pressure, I would say it’s actually building more confidence in me,” said Matharu.
Proud to be representing Canada on the world stage, Matharu said he is now one step closer to his ultimate dream.
“To play World Cup. I would say that’s the last thing,” Matharu said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.