Ravi Kumar is an Indian cricketer who plays at the Under-19 level. He is known for his left arm pacer bowling style. He played a pivotal role in leading the Indian Under-19 cricket team to win the 2022 World Cup, playing a dual role as a run-choker and wicket-taker.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Ravi Kumar was born on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 (age 18 years; as of 2021) in Kolkata. He moved with his family to Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh as a child. He started playing tennis ball cricket in Aligarh and later joined the Aligarh Jagdish Dutt Sharma Cricket Academy (JDSCA). He learned the nuances of cricket while training under coach Arvind Bharadwaj.
Ravi Kumar in his hometown Aligarh
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 6′ 1″
Weight (approx): 60 kg
Hair color: black
Eye color: brown
family
parents and siblings
His father, Rajinder Singh, is an assistant sub-inspector posted at a CRPF camp in Odisha’s Maoist-prone Rayagada district. He spent most of his life away from his family to serve the nation in the militancy-affected areas of Srinagar. Not much is known about the mother. He has 2 siblings, a sister and a younger brother.
Cricket
Ravi Kumar started playing tennis ball cricket as a child in Aligarh, UP. Later, he joined the Aligarh Jagdish Dutt Sharma Cricket Academy (JDSCA) and started training seriously for cricket under the guidance of his coach, Arvind Bharadwaj. However, it turned out to be an uphill journey for Ravi as he failed to get a chance from UP, decided to return to his native Kolkata and started playing second division cricket there. He went to the Bengal Under-16 trials in 2019 but failed the TW3 test, which is for age verification by bone testing.
Later, he played for Howrah Union and then Ballygunge United, after which he was selected for the Bengal Under-19 team. He started training with coach Devang Gandhi, who is a former Indian opener and current Bengal U-19 head coach. He played for Vinoo Mankad (U-19) where the selectors had to keep an eye on deserving players. The selectors were rumored to have Debopratim Halder’s name in mind, but Ravi grabbed their attention and took 11 wickets in the tournament at an economy of 2.75. He earned a spot in the Triangle Series, Challenger Cup and also the Asia Cup.
Ravi Kumar holds the Triangular Series trophy
Ravi Kumar is the winner of the Asia Cup
U-19 World Cup 2022
Ravi took his first wicket in the U-19 World Cup match against Ireland, dismissing his opener Liam Doherty for 7 runs. He showed his accuracy by moving the ball in both directions and making unbeaten cutters in the quarter-final match against Bangladesh. Team India lost the toss and had to chase. Ravi took a wicket in the first over and took 3 wickets in total. With a brilliant performance, 7-1-14-3 was announced as the man of the match. On receiving the Man of the Match award, Ravi said:
The plan was simple – cast tight lines and create pressure. The preparation was good in the previous days. We spent a lot of time together and prepared well.”
In the semi-final against Australia, Ravi continued to display his skills and again took the wicket in his first over. He took 2 wickets in 6 overs and gave away 37 runs.
In the U-19 World Cup final against England, left-arm spinner Ravi led England’s top-order, taking 2 wickets in the first 2 overs of his opening spell. He dismissed Jacob Bethel lbw with an individual score of 2 runs in the first over and sent England captain Tom Perst to the pavilion for a duck. At the end of the first spell, he stood with majestic figures of 3-1-11-2. He took 4 wickets for 34 runs which played a crucial role in the victory of the Indian team.
Ravi Kumar holds the U-19 World Cup (2022) trophy
At the end of the tournament, Ravi Kumar’s stats showed 6 matches with an economy of 3.6 and an average of 13.2. He was the second highest wicket taker in the tournament with 10 wickets behind Vicky Ostwall with 12.
This brilliant performance paved the way for Bengal to a place in the Ranji Trophy squad.
Jersey number
#29 (India Under 19)
domestic team(s)
Confrontation
In 2019, he traveled to Bengal Under-16 trials where he failed the TW3 test, which is done to verify age with the help of bone testing.
Facts/Trivia
- To instill courage and motivation in the players, BCCI conducted an interactive video session with former Indian cricket team captain and Run Machine Virat Kohli. During the session, Ravi asked Virat about his weaknesses. Virat replied,
Why not train now?”
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- According to Ravi Kumar’s coach Devang Gandhi, with the retirement of Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan, there is a void for the left-arm pacer in the Indian cricket team which can be filled by Ravi. He welcomed the idea if the selectors decide to include Ravi in the senior team. He says,
Nothing gives any trainer more satisfaction than seeing their wards reach the elite level. That’s what we strive for as coaches – to guide talented guys in the right direction.
- According to Ravi Kumar’s coach Devang Gandhi, with the retirement of Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan, there is a void for the left-arm pacer in the Indian cricket team which can be filled by Ravi. He welcomed the idea if the selectors decide to include Ravi in the senior team. He says,
- Ravi’s father is an assistant sub-inspector posted at a CRPF camp in Odisha’s Maoist-prone Rayagada district. In 2006, when he was posted in Srinagar’s militancy-hit areas, he was seriously injured in a grenade attack that killed one soldier and injured 11, but he never let Ravi know the news. He has no idea how his son started playing cricket seriously because of his posting in Jammu and Kashmir as he was always on the move during the early days of Ravi’s training. He says of his son’s great achievement:
Hum goli chalake desh seva karte hai, aur beta ball daal ke”
Categories: Cricket
Source: dienchau2.edu.vn
