After a string of persuasive batting sorties in pre-season tournaments Hemant Kumar must have been wondering when the Tamil Nadu selectors would sit up and take notice. His big break finally arrived in Tamil Nadu's last clash in the South Zone league against Kerala at Kochi. The absence of Sadagopan Ramesh, Sridharan Sriram and Hemang Badani doubtless helped the lad force his way into the playing XI.

Slotted to bat at No.3, the lefthander had to await his turn as Kerala won the toss and took first strike. A draw was enough for Tamil Nadu to ensure a place in the knockouts and the bowlers did their bit by running through the hosts for 209 on the opening day. The Tamil Nadu openers Bhatia and Badrinath safely played out ten overs before stumps on the same evening but weather played havoc on the second day to rule out any chances of play being possible.

In the third over of the third morning, Tinu Yohanan accepted a Bhatia return catch to separate the openers, and Hemant was walking in at 22/1. There was a mild flutter in the Tamil Nadu camp as Badrinath also received marching orders in Yohannan's next over, leaving them at a distinctly uncomfortable 25/2.

JR Madanagopal joined Hemant at this point and the pair steadied the ship with a 168 run third wicket stand in 80.2 overs. Progress was decidedly slow but under the circumstances the batsmen could afford to grind it out since there was little pressure to force a victory. Hemant brought up his fifty in 197 balls with just a solitary boundary; a dogged approach but one that was admirably suited to the demands of the situation.

Cutting out any semblance of a risk, Hemant played himself in with tenacity. The pair were in full control of the situation until the second new ball was summoned in the final session. It got rid of Madanagopal but Hemant survived the searching examination to see out the evening. Having batted virtually through the day, Hemant ended with 84 in 89.4 overs bowled.

On the final morning he duly fulfilled his tryst with destiny, posting a century on debut, heralded from 299 balls, inclusive of five hits to the pickets. Soon after, he fell for 101, giving keeper Kamaruddin his fourth catch and the persistent Prasanth Menon his fourth wicket. The rest of the match was little short of a formality. As Hemant said later, he wanted to produce something special so that he could safeguard his place when the regulars were back. Hemant needn't have worried though; he certainly wasn't going to be dropped in a hurry since.