Name Hindi: टीनू योहन्नान / Gender Man
Tinu Yohannan: A Dynamic Cricket Legend
Indian cricket has been graced by many great cricketers, creating a storied history that is rich in success. One of the names etched into this history for his unique contributions to Indian cricket is Tinu Yohannan. Born on February 18, 1979, in Kollam, Kerala, India, Yohannan started playing the game quite early in his life.As the son of an Asian double gold medal-winning long jumper, T.C. Yohannan; sports was deeply ingrained in his genetics.
First Breakthrough
In terms of breaking into professional cricket, Yohannan’s big break came when he was selected for India’s U-19 trip to South Africa during July-August 1998. His performances caught attention, and he soon found himself being selected for the first batch of trainees at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
Career Highlights
- International Debut: After honing his skills at NCA, Yohannan made his International debut for Team India against England at Mohali on December 12th, 2001. He delivered an impressive performance where he took three wickets after conceding just fifty-seven runs.
- A Journey Through Tests: On a pitch favoring fast bowlers which hosted its third Test Match ever played at Mohali in against England December 2001,Yohannan emerged as one of the star performers.He gained considerable recognition, especially because of his ability to swing the ball both ways.
- ODI Appearances: Yohannan also played in One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India, although his appearances were limited. His first ODI was against England on January 22, 2002.
- IPL Stint: In IPL history, he has the distinction of being the first player from Kerala to be included. In the inaugural IPL season of 2008, he played for Royal challengers Bangalore but unfortunately didn’t get enough opportunities to showcase his skills as he appeared only in two matches.
Later Life And Legacy
After a relatively short international career spanning from 2001-2002, Yohannan retired due to recurring injuries.His stint may have been brief, but it undoubtedly broke barriers and served as an inspiration for many upcoming players from south-west Indian states who typically reach cricketing heights seldomly. Post-retirement, he maintained his involvement in cricket by providing training to budding cricketers at Kerala Cricket Association’s Academy and remains one of the prominent figures in its coaching panel.Nevertheless,Tinu Yohannan will always be remembered as a bowler whose presence spoke loud on teamsheets than stats did.
