Ricky Bhui belongs to a family of academicians and is himself a good student. The 19-year-old has added the ability, to read the situation brilliantly on the cricket field and adapt to the situation. The Bhopal-born Andhra batsman, who has two centuries from four Ranji Trophy matches this season, underlined that quality with a valuable ton to help India Blue defeat India Green to lift the U-19 Challenger Trophy in Pune. The knock was all the more special because Bhui came in to bat with the team tottering at 9 for 2. With the team banking on their captain to rescue them from the situation, Bhui responded with a 142 off just 117 balls after carefully building the innings against pacers and then taking on the attack later. “I had to build partnerships and see off that phase (when the team was on the back foot). Since the bowlers (pacers) were bowling well, I had to wait for the spinners to come on. And after 10-15 overs the wicket was dry and it was easy to bat on. So the runs kept coming and I got the momentum. From there we had to take it on,” he told bcci.tv. Bhui’s performance becomes all the more special because he had only couple of days between his last Ranji match (which finished on October 25) and the U-19 one-day tournament where he finished as the highest run-scorer. Asked if he had done any preparations ahead of the tournament which was a platform for U-19 players to stake a claim for a spot in the World Cup squad, Bhui said, “I was playing in the Ranji Trophy so I had to come directly from there. I was in good form in Ranji. I had good four games and continued from there.” Adjusting from the senior tournament too isn’t a concern for Bhui but he recognises the change in his role when he joins the junior circuit. “In the Ranji team there are seniors, so we keep playing in our comfort zone. But here I have to be the senior and whoever — the new players — comes in I have to make them feel comfortable and make them perform.” The responsibility brings out the best in him, feels Bhui. “Captaincy, is an additional responsibility and I think it brings the best out of me. If you take it in the right way it makes you score more runs. Additional responsibility makes you play within your limitations. I enjoy captaining the team and going good as of now,” added the 19-year-old. Bhui also mentioned that former India skipper and now U-19 coach Rahul Dravid did give inputs on his batting. “These few days that I spent with him, we had a couple of talks which was good. He shared a bit of his experience and gave a few tips. He did advise me. He told me that when the ball is moving, like it was here, you try to play on the bowler’s mind; shuffle forward here and there so that the bowler has to change his length. He gave me a few tips like that (which helped me play.) He also asked me about the juniors who are coming in. We had a good talk.” The U-19 tournament done, Bhui will have to quickly rejoin the senior squad (Andhra Ranji Team) who lost to Punjab in just two days their last Ranji trophy game. Bhui, who is also pursuing an engineering degree from Vishakhapatnam, knows that many more challenges await him as he tries to cement his position in the senior domestic circuit and also maintain his academic performance – something his family members are extremely proud of. “My family has professors and all — they are completely into academics. Without their support I wouldn’t have been able to do this. They do tell me to study. I have to keep a good balance and I have done my 10th and 12th with good percentages and even now I try to go to college whenever I find time to go to college.” If early signs are to go by, Bhui is definitely the man to watch out for.