The Journey to the top hasn’t been easy for Mumbai Indians Spinner Kumar Kartikeya. Making his debut against the Rajasthan Royals, the spinner helped Mumbai to their first win of IPL 2022. However, behind the wrist spin and carrom balls is a boy who toiled day in and day out to fulfil his dream.
“Left-arm everything” was what the commentators used to describe Kumar Kartikeya as he bowled every variation in the book. Brought in as a replacement for Arshad Khan, the Uttar Pradesh born spinner hadn’t bowled wrist-spin until six months ago.
According to his coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, Kartikeya taught himself the art of wrist-spin to be successful in T20 cricket.
“Whenever he is free, he starts bowling in the nets. Many a time he comes back from matches in Indore late in the night. He gets the lights on and spends the next two-three hours in the nets. His obsession has only grown in the last nine years.”
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It was this zeal for the game that drove a 15-year old Kartikeya to Bharadwaj. Having promised his family that he won’t add to their financial strain, the teenager set off to Delhi. Knowing no one except his friend Radheshyam, a league cricketer, Kartikeya went from academy to academy.
Having no money to pay for coaching, Kartikeya went to Bharadwaj as a last resort. After agreeing to give him a trial, it took just one ball from the youngster to make Bharadwaj agree.
“His action was so smooth,” Bharadwaj told ESPNcricinfo. “His use of fingers imparted action on the ball.”
Kartikeya would walk miles to his academy to save 10rs for biscuits
After taking care of his coaching, food was still an issue for young Kartikeya. Hence, he started work in a factory in Masuri, which was 80km away from his academy. The 15-year old would work all night and then go for practice in the morning. Kartikeya would often walk for miles in order to save money to buy biscuits.
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Noticing this, Bharadwaj offered the youngster a place to stay at the academy. Bharadwaj vividly recalls Kartikeya’s first day staying at the academy.
“When the cook gave him lunch, Kartikeya began to cry: he hadn’t eaten lunch for a year.”
Kartikeya grabbed the wicket of Sanju Samson in his debut IPL over, ending up with 1/19 in his four overs. Having overcome huge obstacles in order to get this far, the future for this young star seems bright.
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