Top Odisha cricketers earn prestigious memorial awards in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar recently witnessed the much-anticipated return of the Saroj Mahasuar Cricket Awards after five long years. Talented batter Anil Parida secured the Best Young Cricketer trophy, while former Ranji Trophy spinner Dheeraj Singh won the Best Umpire honour for his work on the BCCI panel. Former sports minister Suresh Kumar Rautray and Odisha Olympic Association president Sameer Mohanty attended the grand event. Addressing the young athletes, former cricket coach and MLA Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mahapatra emphasised that true success requires extreme dedication, discipline, and patience.
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Remembering Local Sports Hero Saroj Mahasuar
Memorial committee convenor Manoj Mahapatra presided over the function, which pays tribute to respected umpire Saroj Mahasuar. He tragically lost his life in a 2002 road crash after officiating a local match in Cuttack. Organisers introduced the player award in 2004 and added the umpire category in 2009 to keep his regional sporting legacy alive for future generations.
Rising Batting Sensation Anil Parida
Anil Parida burst onto the first-class scene during the 2025 Ranji Trophy season with a spectacular 99 not out against Services. He has since gathered 422 runs across just four matches, boasting a remarkable average of 84.40. This impressive run includes three half-centuries and an unbeaten 118 against Nagaland. The right-handed batter developed his skills at Juvenile Club before leading state teams in major national age-group tournaments like the Vinoo Mankad and Cooch Behar trophies.
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Transitioning From Spinner to Elite Umpire
Dheeraj Singh enjoyed a prosperous decade playing for the senior Odisha team between 2008 and 2018. The skilled left-arm spinner captured 119 wickets in 51 first-class appearances. Following his retirement from professional play, he transitioned into umpiring and joined the BCCI panel during the 2023-24 season. He is now only the fourth person from Odisha to secure a spot on this highly competitive national umpiring panel.
