The QG team recently had a chat with Rishaan who lives and breathes all things cricket.

1. Tell us about your area of interest or specialisation.

My favourite thing to do in co-curricular is to play cricket as it is my favourite sport and my passion.

2. When and how did you first get interested in this activity?

I got inspired from a cricket player called Sachin Tendulkar and his words hooked me onto cricket for life. My ambition is to be as good as him.

3. What have you achieved so far in this area?

I have scored many runs for my club and played for Gordon’s School and have also been entered into the Surrey play offs for cricket with Gordon’s.

4. At what levels have you participated (school, county, national, international)? Please mention specific events, competitions, or platforms.

As stated before, I played for Gordon’s and we got into the Surrey play offs and if we win, we qualify for Nationals.

5. What challenges have you faced in pursuing this interest, and how did you overcome them?

We have faced quite a few setbacks such as losing a semi-final in a Cup two times in a row for two years. Playing for my team while also fitting in my Gordon’s education can sometimes be challenging.

6. Who has supported or inspired you the most on this journey?

My parents have supported me the most – especially my dad, as he was the one who inspired me first to pursue this sport.

7. What do you enjoy the most about this activity?

I play for fun and I will never forget that, at the end of the day, it is just a game – everybody plays to have fun. But what motivates me to improve, is my passion and determination to be the best.

8. How do you manage your time between academics and this co-curricular interest?

I just manage to; there is no strategy as it just somehow all works out. (QG reckons this is the magic ingredient – just turn up and do the work, success is sure to follow!)

9. What are your future goals related to this interest?

I wish to pursue cricket professionally.

10. What advice would you give to other students who want to explore this field?

Never forget that you are playing for fun, and you should believe in yourself and have the confidence to keep playing – even if you are losing or have performed badly throughout the game. Just keep going!

11. Share a memorable experience related to this activity.

A memorable experience is when I finally played a men’s cricket game for the first time and I batted with my dad.

• Olliyah