Tura, Aug 29: Former Meghalaya professional cricketer and current Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) selector Kilco R. Marak urged young athletes to embrace discipline, perseverance and consistent hard work as he interacted with students during a Khelo India Dialogue programme at ICFAI University Meghalaya’s Tura campus.
The event, organised by the university’s National Service Scheme (NSS) unit as part of National Sports Day celebrations, was held at the university hall on Thursday under the nationwide ‘Khelo India Dialogue’ initiative, titled ‘Khel Ki Baat PM Modi Ke Sath’.
Marak, who represented Meghalaya in domestic competitions including the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, spoke about his own journey in competitive cricket and the challenges involved in progressing from the local level to the national stage.
Responding to questions from students about pursuing careers in sport, Marak emphasised that talent alone is not enough to succeed at the highest level.
“Breaking into top-level sport requires more than just talent. You need daily practice, fitness, dedication and discipline,” he told the students.
Marak, who retired from professional cricket last year, also reflected on his decision to move into scouting and cricket administration. When students jokingly questioned his early retirement, the former cricketer responded with a laugh: “I’m almost 36!” He explained that personal reasons had influenced his decision to step away from professional playing and take up a role in identifying and developing young talent.
Having made the transition to professional cricket in 2019, Marak represented Meghalaya in major domestic tournaments, including the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He said the increasing competitiveness of national-level sport means that young athletes must be prepared to work harder than previous generations.
“Every generation is becoming more competitive,” he said, stressing that willingness to learn, dedication and personal discipline are essential for those hoping to progress.
Marak also offered an encouraging assessment of the emerging cricket talent in Garo Hills. In his current role as an MCA selector for the Under-16 and Under-19 categories, he has been involved in scouting young players across the region.
Referring to recent trials at the Alotgre Cricket Ground in Tura, he said he had come across promising young leg-spinners, off-spinners, batters and fielders with the ability to progress to higher levels.
He also pointed to Tura-based cricketer Purav Agarwal, who was selected as a net bowler for Rajasthan Royals and reached the final IPL auction pool last year, as an example of the opportunities available to players from the state.
Marak expressed confidence that a cricketer from Meghalaya could soon make the breakthrough into an Indian Premier League squad.
During the interaction, students also sought advice on how to move from local competitions into state-level cricket. Marak reiterated that natural ability is only the beginning, with regular training, physical fitness, dedication and discipline required to bridge the gap between local and higher-level competition.
Asked about the trophies and medals he had accumulated during his career, Marak offered a modest reflection on his achievements. Although he did not win a major national professional trophy, he recalled a successful district- and state-level career that included several Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards, as well as Best Bowler and All-Rounder honours. He said the collection is now preserved at his family home.
The Khelo India Dialogue at ICFAI University Meghalaya was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, MY Bharat and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The programme was attended by Bryan Boon R. Marak, Assistant Professor and NSS Programme Officer at ICFAI University Meghalaya, Tura; Himanshu Kashyap, District Youth Officer, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, West Garo Hills, along with university faculty members and students.
The event was held around the broader national vision of “Khelo Aaj, Viksit Bharat Kal” and sought to encourage young people to view sport not merely as a recreational pursuit but also as a potential professional pathway.
The programme also featured a live virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was streamed across educational and sporting institutions around the country. In his address, Modi highlighted the importance of identifying sporting talent at the grassroots level, strengthening sports infrastructure in regional centres and encouraging greater youth participation in sport as part of the country’s development.
The organisers said the initiative was aimed at connecting Meghalaya’s emerging sporting talent with wider national opportunities while motivating young athletes to pursue sporting excellence with institutional support.
