Former Dunstan High School pupil and cricketer Reuben Love had the best time in India with a New Zealand team under the tutelage of former Black Cap Jacob Oram.

He played eight matches, did sightseeing and enjoyed all the diverse cultural experiences during his two week long trip.

Mum Paula Love said Reuben had worked determinedly at his job at Olivers, saving hard to fund the cricket tour.

Reuben told The Central App it took close to three months of working to squirrel away the $8.5K he needed for the tour.

“I worked from the end of exams right up until [university] started.”

Reuben said the cricket went pretty well.

“We won two out of eight games, we were playing some high calibre teams.”

It took him a week to get used to the new environment, and the conditions were vastly different to home.

“The smog in Delhi, it was difficult to breathe… I got Delhi belly for one day and missed one game of cricket.”

Reuben said batting in 45 degrees Celsius was something else entirely.

Reuben in action in India. PHOTO: Supplied

Another highlight was attending an Indian Premier League (IPL) game, the Delhi Capitals versus Rajasthan Royals. 

“The atmosphere was off the charts. People were going ballistic. The crowd was about 30-40 thousand, but it was packed so tight it felt like a hundred thousand really.”

Reuben found out about the opportunity to join the touring team via an online advertisement.

He wasn’t sure it was legitimate initially, but got his uncle to check with Jacob Oram directly, as the pair used to play cricket together.

Reuben said he learned a lot from the coaches about being determined in different conditions, along with improving mental strength and how to beat the heat, keep hydration up and recover well.

Fifteen young men and women were a part of the KiwiCaps cricket tour, and along with Jacob Oram two other coaches helped out during the trip, Georgia Atkinson (Central Hinds) and Chris Sharrock (Cricket Whanganui).

The KiwiCaps contingent. PHOTO: Supplied

Reuben is studying his first year of nutrition at the University of Canterbury, living in a hall of residence and playing cricket for a Sumner division one club team.

Jacob Oram, who played 33 tests, 160 one day internationals (ODIs), and 36 Twenty20s (T20s) has led similar cricket tours for young players for several years, together with company Take me to the World. 

Have a story to share?

Contact [email protected]