Rehaan Edavalath has outlined his goals for the 2025 season and said: “My main ambition is to try and cement a place in the first team for Worcestershire and try and be consistent.”
Edavalath has been successful in combining the second year of his four-year chemical engineering degree at Loughborough, passing several exams, and continuing to develop as a cricketer.
But, although doing all that is required in terms of studying, opener Edavalath insisted: “For me, cricket is the main ambition and I feel in a good place and ready for the season.”
Edavalath averaged an impressive 59.60 in Second Eleven Championship cricket last summer with four half centuries in seven innings in a campaign severely curtailed by the weather.
He said: “Last year in the Seconds, I was happy but I know I can get hundreds and that’s what I pride myself upon.
“I was very consistent, but next time I want to kick on and get those big scores. Try and get into the first team and be consistent, that’s the main aim.”
Edavalath was also given an opportunity in the first team, batting at number six in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
He said: “It was different batting at six but it was actually good experience because, if you bat wherever in the order, you can learn and hopefully it will take me to a better standard when I go into another game and open or bat wherever.
“It was a good experience, learning to bat at a different place in the order.”
Edavalath regards himself predominantly as an opener in red ball cricket.
He said: “That is right. I do see myself as an opener. I’m flexible wherever I bat but predominantly as an opener.”
Edavalath has successful combined his University work and cricket training.
He said: “The first year was quite challenging, doing work and professional cricket was quite hard, and thankfully I managed to adapt.
“This year has been hard because the work has increased but I felt I know more what to do now, how to manage both the cricket and Academic stuff, realise when I have to stuff and when I have to train.
“It has actually been easier to adapt although the work has increased for my academics.
“Mostly I did well with exams. I was a bit worried re what results I would get but thankfully it has gone well.
“I’ve got four exams in the summer so hopefully that can go well as well.
“I feel in a good place with the cricket. I love going back and training with the lads. It’s good fun to be around them and I feel in a good place and ready for the season. Can’t wait.
“The greatest thing about Loughborough is that the facilities are proper good and that surface there is quite different to maybe what we play on outside but it challenges you in different ways.
“It’s good because we get to access it quite a lot.”
Edavalath says he has learnt a lot from watching red ball openers Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby.
He said: “I’ve batted with Rodders and we’ve had a big partnership in the Seconds and just watching them, when you are doing 12th man duties is clear to see the different level they are and learning off them.
“You can see they’ve got their set shots, they leave well, defend well, and they are very patient and know when to apply pressure back onto the bowlers.
“I’ve learnt quite a lot from watching those two and they have done really well.”
