Shillong, May 3: Public representatives are expected to be versatile as they have to wear many hats in their daily interactions with the public and Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma is only setting this bar higher.
On Friday evening, the MLA from Rongara-Siju took on an entirely different role, not in the Assembly or cabinet or a policy meeting, but on a cricket field as he made heads turn with an explosive performance for his team, RS XI, in the ongoing 3rd P. A. Sangma Memorial Day & Night Cricket Tournament in Tura.
Just for clarity, this was not an exhibition match but an actual match in the tournament and Sangma was an active player, not a minister holding the bat for photo-ops. A defeat meant being knocked out of the tournament, that has 99 teams.
The tournament, now in its 11th day, features a T10 format—an intense, 10-overs-a-side showdown where every ball counts. And count it did for Sangma, who smashed 48 runs off 27 balls with a strike rate of 177.78, the highest individual score for his team. His innings included 5 sixes and 3 boundaries, and remained not out. He was well supported at the other end by Rechil Marak’s 36 (9 balls, 6 sixes, SR 400) and Sengkush Ch Marak’s 23 (9 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes), powering RS XI to a humongous total of 166/6 in the allotted 10 overs.
Their opponents, Ka Raka, stood little chance in reply. RS XI’s bowling attack bundled them out for a mere 26 runs in 4.5 overs, handing Sangma’s side a resounding 140-run victory. Chegrim emerged as the pick of the bowlers, grabbing 4 wickets for 16 runs in 2 overs, while Sengkush Ch Marak chipped in with 1 wicket for just 3 runs in 5 balls.
Sangma’s all-round effort earned him the Man of the Match title.
With just three days remaining in the tournament, it remains to be seen whether the minister will take the field again for RS XI in the upcoming matches.
Not long ago, Sangma was seen in his village, harvesting paddy in full farmer’s gear. Dressed in a t-shirt, three-quarter pants, and a cap, he joined fellow community members in cutting and bundling the harvest, setting forth yet another example of a leader who stays rooted in the everyday life of his people.
In a time when public representatives are expected to wear many hats—leader, policymaker, advocate, and more—Rakkam A Sangma’s innings is a reminder that connection with the community can also come through shared passions, like sport. On the cricket field, he was not just a minister or MLA—he was a teammate, a player, and a symbol of spirited public life.
Also Read: Meghalaya’s Riiohlang Dkhar awarded Best Female Assistant Referee 2024-25
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