![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X33BBAFXVP6UCFPWOQPIFV7MPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c585870fa21530c6a00d0ae732e5afd44e4db1f5123d6a01d656d6a579589310&width=400&height=225)
Dubai's Nilansh Keswani bowls in the game between Dubai and Fujairah in the Emirates D20. Monday, December 7th, 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/36KV2Y2HVFDCYVZPL7H7ILSTHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f5fab247e9d26b07a7a55e96f20d7539a80e96c0735c1e16eeaceaa3e9deba5&width=400&height=225)
Young UAE cricketer Nilansh Keswani training at the ICC Academy in Dubai. All photos by Reem Mohammed / The National unless stated.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XGGFOG7TBUUAPMBZOWCWR7ZJQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=79a4fe89c660fdcc01214c05f087d2973715c8c692ddd807b163ff9b6bdd990c&width=400&height=225)
Nilansh Keswani’s extraordinary spell of six for 17 off 10 overs in Dubai Starlets' opening game included dismissing stars of the national team like Rohan Mustafa and Vriitya Aravind.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKXUWPVCEU2BRP65QPJRJ2A7RA.jpg?smart=true&auth=61d3b6a6b919735418e4394ce1a9fe8067113b0326aa4fef36063fdaa95d26be&width=400&height=225)
The left-arm spinner followed that up with four for 25 next time out, and also struck a hundred with the bat for good measure.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ENBLQOGEUHZWTGSOWLQYB57FUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5cda1cab21438a740df730217b5af8f876ef79b6e24475616f616aa6c0f65e2c&width=400&height=225)
Nilansh Keswani training with coach Qasim Ali at ICC Academy.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTEAJTUAUGQLCKWZJ4JDHTDISY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fbfb2c95f23f68248c05674c9802d78449c893feeffbf101ba7220ac5e6da39&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai-born spinner has more reasons than most for his fierce drive to succeed. His father died when he was a young child, and his mother was recently made redundant. He says he wants to excel in the sport to honour each of them.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LYR7D5LFEQKVXANUUFQQJKGGDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ff5adbca1bf049f928775e4c45d93e1bb3d83abc2ebcd5530003b089b48807b&width=400&height=225)
Nilansh Keswani alongside coach Qasim Ali.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X33BBAFXVP6UCFPWOQPIFV7MPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c585870fa21530c6a00d0ae732e5afd44e4db1f5123d6a01d656d6a579589310&width=400&height=225)
Dubai's Nilansh Keswani bowls in the game between Dubai and Fujairah in the Emirates D20. Monday, December 7th, 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/36KV2Y2HVFDCYVZPL7H7ILSTHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f5fab247e9d26b07a7a55e96f20d7539a80e96c0735c1e16eeaceaa3e9deba5&width=400&height=225)
Young UAE cricketer Nilansh Keswani training at the ICC Academy in Dubai. All photos by Reem Mohammed / The National unless stated.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XGGFOG7TBUUAPMBZOWCWR7ZJQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=79a4fe89c660fdcc01214c05f087d2973715c8c692ddd807b163ff9b6bdd990c&width=400&height=225)
Nilansh Keswani’s extraordinary spell of six for 17 off 10 overs in Dubai Starlets' opening game included dismissing stars of the national team like Rohan Mustafa and Vriitya Aravind.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKXUWPVCEU2BRP65QPJRJ2A7RA.jpg?smart=true&auth=61d3b6a6b919735418e4394ce1a9fe8067113b0326aa4fef36063fdaa95d26be&width=400&height=225)
The left-arm spinner followed that up with four for 25 next time out, and also struck a hundred with the bat for good measure.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ENBLQOGEUHZWTGSOWLQYB57FUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5cda1cab21438a740df730217b5af8f876ef79b6e24475616f616aa6c0f65e2c&width=400&height=225)
Nilansh Keswani training with coach Qasim Ali at ICC Academy.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTEAJTUAUGQLCKWZJ4JDHTDISY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fbfb2c95f23f68248c05674c9802d78449c893feeffbf101ba7220ac5e6da39&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai-born spinner has more reasons than most for his fierce drive to succeed. His father died when he was a young child, and his mother was recently made redundant. He says he wants to excel in the sport to honour each of them.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LYR7D5LFEQKVXANUUFQQJKGGDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ff5adbca1bf049f928775e4c45d93e1bb3d83abc2ebcd5530003b089b48807b&width=400&height=225)
Nilansh Keswani alongside coach Qasim Ali.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X33BBAFXVP6UCFPWOQPIFV7MPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c585870fa21530c6a00d0ae732e5afd44e4db1f5123d6a01d656d6a579589310&width=400&height=225)
Dubai's Nilansh Keswani bowls in the game between Dubai and Fujairah in the Emirates D20. Monday, December 7th, 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Nilansh Keswani is the skinny, bespectacled teenager taking UAE domestic cricket by storm
Keswani, 17, has shone with bat and ball so far in this season's Bukhatir League, and he only aims to get better
![Paul Radley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4bea718a-3833-459d-b22e-394141107aed.png?smart=true&auth=9b0d25df28459c73830f10d00934933c01a577dee63bf7a45b39f23e0bdb9f75&width=70&height=70)
Paul Radley
24 February, 2021
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