Ravi Kumar (Cricketer)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Ravi Kumar

• Ravi Kumar is an Indian cricketer, who represents India at the Under-19 level as an all-rounder, particularly as a left-arm pacer. He is known for moving the ball both ways and delivering unplayable cutters.
  

• Born in Kolkata, he moved to Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh with his family, where he started playing tennis-ball cricket. ^[2]The Hindu

• He started his training under coach Arvind Bharadwaj at Aligarh Jagdish Dutt Sharma Cricket Academy (JDSCA) ^[3]ABP

  

• However, he had his own share of hurdles. Ravi could not get a chance in UP and had to take the Bengal detour. He shifted back to his birthplace, Kolkata and played second division cricket there.

• Later, he joined Howrah Union and then Ballygunge United from where he was picked for the Bengal Under-19 side. ^[4]NDTV

• He then got selected for the Vinoo Mankad (U-19). It is rumoured that the selectors had their eyes on Debopratim Halder but Ravi caught their attention with an economy of 2.75 and grabbed a total of 11 wickets. He then got inducted into the India U19 Challengers Squad and it also earned him a place in a tri-series at home and the Asia Cup. ^[5]Zee News
  

  

  

• Ravi took his maiden wicket in the Under-19 world cup 2022 by dismissing Ireland opening batsman Liam Doherty for 7 runs.

• In the Under-19 world cup quarterfinal against Bangladesh, he gave a stunning performance of 7-1-14-3. Bangladesh opted to bat first, where Indian left-arm pacer Ravi took 3 wickets and became the man of the match. ^[6]Zee News

• On earning the title of the man of the match, Ravi said,
  

  The plan was simple – to bowl tight lines and create pressure. Preparation was nice during the last few days. We spent a lot of time together and prepared well.”

• He continued his momentum in the semi-final against Australia and managed to get 2 wickets by bowling 6 overs.

• Before the Under-19 world cup final, BCCI arranged an interactive video session with former Indian skipper Virat Kohli to instil courage among the boys. In the session, Ravi asked Virat about his weaknesses to which Kohli replied,
  

  क्‍यों अभी से आउट करने की ट्रेनिंग कर रहा है क्‍या ?”

• In the Under-19 world cup final against England, Ravi put on a spectacular show by picking 4 wickets for 34 runs. He played a crucial role in making England’s top-order struggle while choking them for runs and taking their wickets.

• His fiery opening spell had impressive figures of 3-1-11-2 in which he dismissed Jacob Bethell for lbw for an individual score of 2 runs in his very first over. In the very next over he dismissed skipper Tom Prest for a duck.

• By the end of the tournament, Ravi had brilliant numbers in 6 matches. He ended up with 10 wickets just two wickets behind leader Vicky Ostwal with an average of 13.2 and an economy of 3.6.

• Based on these numbers, left-arm seamer Ravi found himself a place in the Bengal Ranji Trophy squad. ^[7]The Indian Express

• Ravi Kumar’s coach Devang Gandhi, who is a former Indian opener and current Bengal U-19 head coach thinks highly of Ravi and welcomes the idea if the senior state selectors and team management decide upon including Ravi in the senior squad. According to him, India has been searching for an effective left-arm pacer for a while now after the retirements of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra. He says,
  

  Nothing gives any coach more satisfaction than seeing their wards make it to the elite level. That’s what as coaches we aspire for — to guide the talented boys in right direction.”

• Ravi Kumar’s father, Rajinder Singh is an assistant sub-inspector posted in a CRPF camp in the Maoist-prone Rayagada district of Odisha. He got severely injured in a grenade attack in 2006 in Srinagar, which he did not want Ravi to know about. He spent most of his life posted in the militant-hit regions of Srinagar but made sure that his wife and three children live and sleep peacefully. He says that he actually had no clue when his son started playing cricket since he was posted in Jammu & Kashmir and was always on the move. ^[8]NDTV Watching his son excel in cricket and bring laurels for the country, Singh with immense pride says,
  

  Hum goli chalake desh seva karte hai, aur beta ball daal ke,”