There’s nothing more infectious than a sunny personality, and Benalla’s new coach is making an impact at the cricket club.
Priyank Chohan, more commonly known as Sunny, has hit the ground running as the new senior coach of the Bushrangers.
His side beat the reigning premier, Rovers Bruck, in his first game at the helm and followed it up in the next round with a win against Delatite.
Sunny has an impressive resume in cricket, working with some of the best teams in Canada, but he described it as a dream to play in Australia.
“In Canada, we talk about Australian athleticism,” Sunny said.
“It’s just known that athletes are great in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.
“So I really wanted to experience and make sure, like, I grasp everything and then play along with the season with the guys who are playing here.
“They (the conditions) were definitely different. A lot more bounce on the wicket, but I got used to it.
“I’m a short guy, so it was really helpful for me to actually get under it a little bit.”
While Australia might have some of the most desirable conditions for playing cricket, Sunny said cricket is a popular sport in Canada.
“You’d be surprised. There’s a lot more,” he said.
“Usually, the games here are only on Saturdays. We play Saturday, Sunday and weekday cricket.
“And then I’m prone to playing at least four games on the weekend.”
“I played for the province (Ontario).”
While Sunny has a passion for playing cricket, he has been involved in all aspects of the game.
“I was the support staff for Global T20, where (Australian) Chris Lynn was the captain for us,” he said.
“We had Andre Russell, we had like Carlos Brathwaite, we had Sherfane Rutherford, who was a man of the tournament, and we won the whole thing.
“(It was) nerve-wracking at first, and then it got better because you got to know the people and how they are.
“It was great to interact with them (the players.)”
After flying halfway around the world and being flung straight into the cricket season, Sunny is finding his feet in his coaching role.
“(I’m) taking it slow at first, (I’m) getting to know the city and then the players, the people,” he said.
“It’s always challenging to come into a new club or new environment (and) to fit in there and do things the way that’s supposed to be done.
“The things that I see, they have a good social environment. After the game or after practice, everyone’s having a beer and chilling out.
“I love the coffees around here. I just keep going out for coffee with everybody.
“So it’s good. It’s very peaceful.
“I would like to see more crowd to support the oncoming talent because these guys are the ones who are going to take on the future for Australia. So hopefully we can get that going.”
With a summer of Australian professional cricket quickly approaching and a World Cup under way, Sunny is keen to see some of Australia’s best in action.
“Someone promised to take me to a Renegades game, so hopefully, I’ll be sharing a change room with them,” he said.
“So if that happens, it’s like a dream come true.
“I have (a prediction for the ICC Cricket World Cup). I know everyone’s saying because it’s the home of India, so India is going to win it. But I really have my hopes up for South Africa.
“Australia, I think they could get their comeback, but they’ll come back to, like, semifinals minimum because they’re athletes.
“So I’m (backing) in Australia, too. I don’t want to get kicked out.”