Pranav Dhanawade: From humble beginnings to a global stage, but is it cricket?

We may still only be in the first week of 2016, but one of the greatest sports stories of the year has already been written.

Dhanawade, a 15-year-old schoolboy from Mumbai, has become the first cricketer to score 1,000 runs in a recognised innings.

His 1,009 not out came in KC Ghandi School's total of 1,465-3 declared against Arya Gurukul during the HT Bhandari Cup inter-school cricket tournament.

And his story is quite remarkable. From humble beginnings, Dhanawade has received very little in the way of a cricket education.

In fact, his father had previously tried to find sponsorship to buy equipment for his son, only to be told the youngster needed first to make a name for himself.

Now, having received headlines around the world, Dhanawade should be able to get the equipment and training his dad admitted he could not afford. The regional government of Maharashtra is to cover his coaching costs.

So much has been made of Dhanawade's innings and quite rightly so, but there is a bitter taste to this story that needs addressing.

The young boy's innings is something that may never happen ever again, but the question that should be asked is whether it should have been allowed to happen in the first place?

Spare a thought for the 11 members of Arya Gurukul CC who were dismissed for 31 in the first innings before KC Gandhi English School amassed an astonishing 1465-3 declared.

They fared slightly (but not much) better in their second innings reaching 52 all out, hence losing by an innings and 1382 runs.

Despite the accomplishment, Dhamawade's chances of making a successful career from the sport are still incredibly small, especially with the intensely fierce competition within the country.

But one boy's gain could have caused irreparable damage to 11 other individuals whose dreams and passion for the sport could quite easily have been extinguished after witnessing this demolition on a first-hand basis.

How is Tejas Misar feeling after 0-142 from six overs, or opening bowler Sarth Salunke after being dispatched for 284 off his 20 overs?

What about captain and wickekeeper Swaraj Deshmukh who didn't score a run in either innings facing just 17 total balls or Ayush Dubey's king pair (two golden ducks)?

Has anyone asked them how they're feeling in the aftermath of the record?

You have to question whether this sort of game should be allowed to happen. At what point does it go from fantastic achievement to damaging spectacle?

Should ESPN be publishing the complete scorecards from the game for the world to see the punishment these youngsters took?

These boys are still children, they are still learning the game and there has to be a point where the adults overseeing these type of matches need to make a sensible decision.

In England, U11's sports scores are not reported in the media beacause it's more about development than results.

In America, schools and clubs have a 'mercy rule' should one team get too far ahead of the other, the game comes to an early end, therefore keeping the children's dignity intact.

Staggeringly, Dhanawade's runs came off just 323 balls – he smashed 59 sixes and 129 fours, making the most of the short 30-yard boundary on one side of the ground.

He scored 652 of his total on the first day of the game on Monday, breaking the previous best score of 628 not out by Arthur Collins, during a junior house match in June 1899 in England.

And it was on Monday evening when speaking to the press that Dhanawade showed he is a star in the making.

"If I can score 650 in two sessions, there is no reason why I can't get to 1,000 in the morning," the youngster said as he showed he doesn't lack the confidence needed for the world stage.

And speaking afters his incredible feat, Dhanawade added: "I have always been a big-hitter.

"When I started I never thought about breaking the record. I just played my natural game, which is to attack from the word go."

It's fair to say Dhanawade was simply off the radar before the events on Monday. Nobody in the local media was aware of the talented teenager, while even his dad Prashan, who works as a driver, had to rush to the ground after finding out his boy had surpassed 300.

"A father of one of his friends called me and asked, 'you are not at the ground?'. So I immediately rushed to the venue," he said. "It's obviously a very proud day. It's a reward for 11 years of his hard work."

Dhanawade's achievement was immediately saluted by India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who tweeted: "Congrats @PranavDhanawade on being the first ever to score 1000 runs in an innings. Well done and work hard. You need to scale new peaks!"

Other celebrities also got in on the act as cricket fans reacted with praise, shock and disbelief with former English county cricketer Alan Wilkins adding: "The numbers for Pranav Dhanawade are mind-numbing! 1,009 from 323 balls. 59x6s, 129x4s. 870 runs in boundaries! Did anyone in Mumbai see it?"

But spare a thought for the bowlers, one of whom conceded 224 runs in 20 overs while another leaked 241 off 18. Arya Gurukul were rolled over for 31 and 72 to lose by the small matter of an innings and 1,362 runs.

Mumbai has a tradition of big scores in school cricket – Tendulkar first came to prominence with 326 not out in 1988. That is largely due to the Mumbai Cricket Board being adamant youngsters must learn the game in a longer two-day format rather than just playing Twenty20.

Most importantly though, Dhanawade showed no matter your beginnings, talent can always shine through.