Jagadeswara Koduru looking forward to successful campaign

Despite his young age, Waratah’s new captain Jagadeswara Koduru is determined to lead from the front, and is in search of silverware.

Jagadeswara Koduru at the crease for Northcote. Picture: Valeriu Campan.

Former under-19s Victoria skipper Jagadeswara Koduru has hit the ground running for Waratah in his first outing as the side’s captain.

In what will be his third season with the Tahs, Koduru has taken over the reins for season 2024 and looks to have brought his red hot form with him, making 80 off 103 against Palmerston in the Tah’s 20-run victory.

Fresh off scoring 401 runs and averaging 40 for Northcote in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition, the top order batter is confident in his ability to lead from the front.

“I believe that if I’m playing then we will win,” the 20-year-old said.

“My game feels great at the moment and I’m just focused on making as many runs as I can to get us in a good spot.”

Dropped to Northcote’s Second XI midway through the season after struggling to find runs, Koduru said that his game had been on the improve once he focused on what was going on upstairs.

“Pre-Christmas I was struggling for form,” he said.

“There was a fair bit going on externally and my head space wasn’t quite right.

“But after Christmas, I focused on some technical things and the other things went away.

“I’m in a bit of form at the moment and I’m going to do what I can to carry it through the season.”

Now one from one, the Victorian is looking for his side to bring home the goods again against PINT this weekend.

“We’ve got some players joining us who weren’t here in Round 1, and they’ll make us stronger,” he said.

“We sort of got away with it (the win) against Palmerston, so we need to be on our game this Saturday as PINT are looking like a very strong team.

“They recruited well in the off-season and will be a challenge but we’re up for it.”