Shakti Gauchan, 26, became the first Nepali cricketer to complete 1,000 runs in international one-dayers during his half-century against Malaysia in the ACC Trophy Elite 2010 semifinal match at the Hubara, Kuwait.
He now has 1,034 runs from 44 innings of 52 matches at an average of 27.95. His half-century on Wednesday was his fourth while he has also scored 106 not out against Italy.
For a cricketer, who had not remained in the limelight, the achievement speaks more about his dedication and commitment to cricket.
On his debut in the national team in 2002, he won the man-of the-match award against Oman for scoring 37 runs and taking three wickets. The ACC Trophy turned out to be his dream debut as he went on to score 248 runs and took seven wickets in six matches helping Nepal reach the final.
Shakti Gauchan with his daughter.
At nearly six foot, the cricketer from Bhairahawa, Shakti is an efficient cricketer, most of the times remaining in the shadows. In such a shadow that despite being the vice-captain of the national team with a history of leading Nepal in the U-19 World Cup, he was never considered a potential captain.
He played 26 matches for the U-19 team scoring 600 runs, with a century and four half-centuries, and taking 24 wickets. His most memorable performance was against South Africa when he scored 51 not out and took two wickets for a sensational victory in the 2006 Youth World Cup – a captain´s knock.
For Shakti, who married his sweetheart Kavita and has a sweet little daughter, cricket is life. He continues contributing on the field and also off the field. He has set up a cricket training center in his hometown, something he is really proud of.
Shakti also bowls left-arm leg-breaks and has taken 62 wickets. One of his teammates long ago joked on him: ´put a coin on the pitch and Shakti will hit it four times in an over´. Probably true with him as he is known to be mean while bowling with his economy rate only being 2.34 runs per over.
His success should be attributed to, as his former captain Binod Das said, his capacity to play within his limitations.