From walking miles to save Rs 10 for cricket to helping MP win maiden Ranji Trophy; read the story of Kumar Kartikeya

From walking miles to save Rs 10 for cricket to helping MP win maiden Ranji Trophy; read the story of Kumar Kartikeya

Kumar Kartikeya

Kumar Kartikeya’s story not a fairy tale. A son of a constable in Uttar Pradesh, the 24-year-old made his debut for Mumbai Indians against Rajasthan Royals on April 30 in the recently-concluded IPL 2022. He was roped in by MI for INR 20 lakh as a replacement bowler for Mohammad Arshad Khan. After IPL, he started playing in the Ranji Trophy. He hasn’t gone home for nine years because he is committed to achieve something in life before visiting Kanpur again.

“It’s been nine years, two months & three days, I have not met my parents in all this time- I will go to home when I will get 20-25 days break,” Kartikeya said to the Time of India.

Kartikeya, a player who couldn’t afford to eat lunch for a year, walked miles to save Rs 10 all for cricket, finally made his dream come true when Mumbai Indians brought him in IPL 2022.

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Read the struggles of Kumar Kartikeya

Kartikeya
Kumar Kartikeya

Kumar Kartikeya had to leave his city Kanpur and move to Delhi at the age of 15 to hone his cricket skills. He left his home promising that cricket won’t be a burden for them. A dream is one thing and financial instability is another. It takes arduous labour when you have less money. But Kartikeya’s story is no fairy tale. His dedication, hardwork and the determination to get up after facing all the wrath…looks so easy when success arrives.

Kartikeya worked as a labourer in a factory near Ghaziabad for food and lodging. He would work all night and turn up for practice in the morning. His coach Sanjay Bhardwaj offered him free coaching and let him stay with the cooks who worked at his Delhi Academy.

“When the cook gave him lunch, Kartikeya began to cry…he hadn’t eaten lunch for a year,” Bhardwaj had told ESPNCricinfo.

He played at U-23 level for MP before making his List A and Ranji Trophy debut for the same state in late 2018. He scalped 35 wickets in nine first-class games and grabbed 18 wickets from 19 List A games at an economy of 4.08.

In the Ranji Trophy 2021-22, in 11 innings, Kartikeya scalped 32 wickets, which made him the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament this year. Mumbai’s Shams Mulani stands at the top with 45 wickets in 11 innings.

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