In a striking display of resilience and skill, wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Kushagra made a memorable return to the cricket field on Day 2 of Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy fixture. After a six-week layoff due to a back injury, which saw him miss the Emerging Asia Cup and four Ranji Trophy matches, Kushagra marked his comeback with an outstanding performance.
The player scored an unbeaten century, notching up 133 runs off just 166 balls. His aggressive batting, which included 15 fours and five sixes, came at a crucial time for Jharkhand. The match between Jharkhand and Delhi has seen reduced play with only 69 overs bowled on the second day and a total of 55 overs lost over the two days, hinting at an inevitable draw.
Kushagra’s innings stood out not just for the volume of runs but for the manner in which they were scored. After reaching his fifty from 83 balls, he escalated his scoring rate considerably, taking just 39 more balls to reach the century. This intent and aggression caught the attention of national selector S Sharath along with a scout from Gujarat Titans, a testament to his potential and form.
While other Jharkhand batters struggled to gain momentum on the pitch, Kushagra’s strike rate of 80.12 shone brightly. His calculated risks changed the game’s momentum. Sharandeep Singh and Virat Singh, the overnight batsmen, had managed a mere 11 runs in the first 10 overs of the day. Kushagra walked in soon after and took the game in a different direction.
Kushagra’s cricketing journey, which began under his father’s tutelage in Jamshedpur, has been one of steady growth. Guided by the principles laid out in Bob Woolmer’s “Art and Science of Cricket,” his robust fundamentals have paved the way for his career. Despite mixed results in his short stint with Delhi Capitals in the IPL last year, where he was picked up for Rs 7.20 crores but only managed to score three runs in three innings, he was fast-tracked into the India A squad.
As a talented wicketkeeper-batter, Kushagra is deemed to be among the contenders for a spot in the national team, potentially challenging peers such as Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson. His latest innings in the Ranji Trophy is a strong statement of his abilities and a sign that he is back in form, ready to contribute to his team’s successes and eyeing a berth in the national setup.
With the match looming towards a draw and a dampened number of overs, Kushagra’s century stands as the highlight, indicating his readiness to escalate his game to new heights. His return from injury not only spells good news for Jharkhand but also for selectors looking for promising talent in the domestic circuits.
