Twenty-three-year-old Chandrapaul Rudy Hemraj, a middle order left-handed batsman attached to the Everest Cricket Club, was born at the Cane Grove Health Centre, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) to Anita and Daiaram Hemraj.
Commonly called “Rudy”, the talented cricketer grew up in Strathavon Cane Grove, ECD with his three other siblings- Radha Sugrim, Randy and Rovin Hemraj.
Chandrapaul Rudy Hemraj and his two brothers
He attended that Strathavon Primary School and completed his secondary education at the Bygeval Secondary School.
Cricket was a big part of his life since he grew up in a family that was enthusiastic about the game. He recalled attending cricket matches with his father and eventually, he developed a love for the sport. At an early age, he knew that cricket would be part of his life.
He was forced to strike a balance between school and practice sessions; something he has not regretted since he was given the opportunity to represent Guyana at the Under 15, Under 19 and senior levels. Representing Guyana has been a lifelong dream of his and for it become a reality is quite overwhelming, but this young cricketer continues to grab opportunities as they come his way with both hands. He was successful in the U-15, U-19 and the Regional four-day tournament.
His greatest achievement thus far is scoring 100 not out against Barbados in the Regional Under 19 50 overs tournament. In the next five years, he is very optimistic of being part of the West Indies senior team. He also hopes to stay fit and remains an excellent international batsman. More so, he hopes to become a mentor at his club for youngsters in his community.
For those who wish to make cricket a career, the young man’s advice to youths is to be patient and live in the moment. He noted that trying to do too much often complicates everything and as such, urged them to be themselves and enjoy playing cricket. On a much lighter note, Hemraj’s favourite colour is green and he loves fish and chips and Bar-be-que. He also likes to listen to music and hang out with friends during his leisure time. The quotes he uses quite often are “Everything happens for a reason” and “No matter how hard things get, never give up because you never know how close you are to success”.
