From the characteristic twirling of the bat, the spot-jogging and the flexing of the shoulders, it's tough to miss the uncanny resemblance that Vijay Zol shares with Vinod Kambli when he walks out to bat. That he bats left-handed and doesn't mind playing his shots only adds to the impression. Also Read: Selectors gamble on Vijay Zol

But it doesn't take too long to fathom that he possesses his own share of idiosyncrasies. Zol might be no exception when it comes to batsmen who prefer celebrating a milestone with a quiet, poignant glance towards the heavens. The only difference being that the 18-year-old left-hander arches his neck and looks skywards after every delivery he faces. And religiously so, regardless of whether he's played one of his delectable cut shots or simply defended a ball to cover. Later in the day, Zol revealed that he had followed the routine conscientiously right since his school days, including when he first made headlines for scoring 451 in an under-19 match for Maharashtra two years ago. Also Read: Vijay Zol - Jalna's biggest success story

On Friday, the teenaged talent experienced his first outing with the bat in a first-class scenario against a bunch of Kiwis double his size. By the end of it, he had indulged in his superstitious drill on 153 occasions. More importantly, the diminutive lad had along the way proven that he was good enough to hold his own in a man's world.

Despite a dashing ton from India A skipper Abhishek Nayar late in the day, it was Zol's maiden first-class century on debut that ended up as the toast of the three-day encounter, which concluded in a draw at the Port Trust stadium. And with his stroke-filled 110, he had also proven that his boys-to-men transformation, perceived by some as being premature, had been completed without any setbacks.

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