The era of mongoose and double blade bats appears to be over as eco-friendly 'Wow' aluminium bats are going to flood the market to further revolutionise cricketing in India.
Brain-child of an Indian IIT engineer, Wow aluminium bats are the latest innovations to hit tennis ball cricket and will be formally unveiled in the capital on May 21, while those to be used by leather ball cricket would be introduced three months later.
"Wow! Aluminium bats are made using aeronautical grade aluminium. Each machine-made bat is balanced so as to produce a perfect piece," said IIT Roorkee alumni Vivek Lakhotia, who is the designer and innovator of the bat.
Placed within the factory price range of Rs 500-800, Wow aluminium bats weighs less than the wooden bat and have a life which is at least five times more than a wooden cricket bat, Lakhotia said.
These eco-friendly bats use recycled aluminium and will help save willow trees of Kashmir currently used in making of cricket bats, he added.
Lakhotia has also applied for four patents of the bat -- cutting edge design, process, actual product and the innovation itself.
"Patents, once granted will help in protecting the design and product from being copied by others", said Diljeet Titus, senior partner of law firm Titus and Co and general secretary of Policy Planning Group (PPP) under whose aegis the launch is being organised.
"It is a very good bat and all my wards have come up with good response to the bat. They said it doesn't feel like they are playing with an aluminium bat as they can play all their strokes easily with this latest bat," said Mansoor Baig, secretary of Rajasthan Tennis Ball cricket Association.
The Wow aluminium bat can also be used for training purposes by different age-groups as it provides the option of setting the bat at a preferable weight by putting extra grams.
"Some players want to train with a light bat while some prefers heavy bats like Sachin Tendulkar. It can be used for both purposes as one can add extra weight to the bat and make its bottom heavy or light," Lakhotia said.
Lakhotia has already given bats for testing to the various State Association.
"It is very good and the weight is also same as the wooden bat. I am very satisfied with it and I think it is a great concept. Since the boys have been using it for a few days now, I think within the next two months they would get more accustomed with the bat," said Mohd Latif, International co-ordinator of Tennis Ball Cricket Federation Of India.
Agrees Secretary of Delhi Tennis ball cricket Association, Usman Siddique.
"It is a good creation and the first impression has been positive from the kids. We have a junior national camp here from May 25. I think the boys will get a better feel of the bat during the camp," said Siddique.
It was one-year ago that Lakhotia, who manages an aluminium company, had thought of this idea which can help young cricketers and lovers of the game to make a contribution to the environment.
"Around 25 crore children and adults in India play this game. There are 5000 tournaments of tennis ball in a year in India and if they continue to play with the wooden bat, it will lead to deforestation soon.
"I feel Aluminium bat will at least give everybody a chance to contribute to the environment by using an eco-friendly product," he said.
