Bhubaneswar will honour two outstanding cricket talents this Sunday
Bhubaneswar prepares to recognize batting sensation Anil Parida and former bowler Dhiraj Singh with this year’s Saroj Mahasuar Memorial Award. Convenor Manoj Mahapatra confirmed the ceremony will take place this Sunday at the Town Club ground in Old Bhubaneswar. Organizers have presented this respected local sports prize for 21 consecutive years, making it a cornerstone event for celebrating Odisha's regional athletic talent. Parida claims the Best Young Cricketer trophy, while Singh secures the Best Umpire title.
Rising Star Shows Dominance
Parida launched his first-class career in spectacular fashion during 2025. He struck an unbeaten 99 on his Ranji Trophy debut against Services. Over just four first-class matches, he accumulated 422 runs while maintaining an impressive average of 84.40. His rapid rise included three half-centuries and a brilliant unbeaten 118 against Nagaland. Starting his career at Juvenile Club, the right-handed middle-order batter successfully navigated through multiple age-group levels. He captained regional squads in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Cooch Behar Trophy, C.K. Nayudu Trophy, and State-A Trophy. Furthermore, he launched his T20 career against Assam during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Veteran Spinner Transitions Successfully
Singh represented the Odisha senior state squad as a left-arm spinner for an entire decade spanning 2008 to 2018. During his playing days, he claimed 119 wickets across 51 first-class matches. He competed in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and represented the East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Following his retirement from active play, he shifted his focus to officiating in the 2023-24 season. He became only the fourth Odia to secure a BCCI panel umpire position, joining the elite ranks of Subrata Das, Arun Basa, and Durgadatta Das. Leveraging his deep on-field knowledge, he recently completed three successful years officiating matches at the national level.
