Odilemba Kichu, a 23-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler from Mokokchung, has been named in the Nagaland state team for the upcoming Senior Men’s Ranji Trophy 2025–26. With this selection, he becomes the first homegrown player from Mokokchung to feature in the premier domestic first-class cricket championship in India. The announcement was made recently by the Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA).
Odilemba’s cricketing journey began at the age of 12, playing in his colony in Kichutip Ward with locally made bats and handmade balls. At 15, he played his first club match for Jovial Cricket Club in a 2016 Mokokchung District Cricket Association (MDCA) tournament, where he was named the Most Promising Player of the tournament.
Reflecting on his Ranji Trophy call-up, Odilemba said he has been associated with the Nagaland Cricket Association since 2016, participating in all major BCCI tournaments across different age groups. He explained that in August, the NCA organized a selection camp for both the Under-23 and senior teams, where he performed well enough to catch the selectors’ attention. His inclusion in the Ranji Trophy squad, he added, fulfilled a lifelong dream. Expressing gratitude, he said, “All those years of hard work have finally paid off. It was all His Almighty’s plan and I could not be happier than I am today.”
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Odilemba thanked God for his blessings and expressed gratitude to the Mokokchung District Cricket Association and its president, Imlikumzuk Longkumer, for recognising his talent early and providing guidance, support, and opportunities throughout his cricketing journey. Recalling his early coaching days, Odilemba said his 2017 coach, Talikaba, taught him many skills and personally accompanied him to Sovima, Dimapur, for the Under-17 selection camp.
Odilemba credited his family, friends, and mentors for their constant encouragement. He recalled the support of his school principal, sir Yutsung, who allowed him to balance studies and cricket during his early years. Having left academics after Class 12 to pursue cricket, he has represented Nagaland at Under-16, Under-23, and Under-25 levels, played for the Northeast team, and was also selected for the National F Team (India), a developmental squad for top performers across the country that attends intensive training camps under national coaches.
Looking ahead, he aims to focus on his cricketing career and contribute to Nagaland cricket. “My future plan is to give my best performance and bring laurels to the Nagaland team,” he said.
Speaking to Mokokchung Times about the potential of cricket in the state, Odilemba noted that Nagaland has many talented youngsters but opportunities remain limited due to lack of recognition and infrastructure.
“There’s plenty of scope for cricket in our state. Even in Mokokchung, I’ve seen many young talented individuals. We, Nagas, always had a keen interest in sports,” he observed. “But it’s disheartening to see that it is not truly recognized as a career option, especially by our parents,” he added.
“With proper guidance and nurturing, I truly feel that players from Nagaland will shine and bring glory to the state,” he said.
For aspiring cricketers, his message is simple: “There will be distractions, obstacles and challenges, but if you can be true to yourself you will definitely achieve your dreams.”
When asked about what could be done to further promote young cricketers in Mokokchung so that more players can represent the state and beyond, he said that improving infrastructure and providing better facilities would enable them to compete with confidence against players from other states.
With his historic Ranji Trophy call-up, Odilemba Kichu now carries the hopes of Mokokchung and the wider Nagaland cricketing community, marking a new milestone for the sport in the district.
