Ravi Bishnoi is all set to play his maiden IPL in UAE this year for Kings XI Punjab. The Jodhpur Boy who impressed one and all in Under 19 World Cup 2020 will be now seen using his googly on the international superstars.
Things to know about Ravi Bishnoi
1.) Bishnoi’s T20 debut came for Rajasthan in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Then He was selected for the side in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2019-20 season. He ended the List A tournament as the third-highest wicket-taker for Rajasthan with seven wickets from five matches with the best being 3/49. In both tournaments, he contributed with the bat as well. His overall good show helped him cement a place in India’s Under 19 World Cup 2020 which took him to the limelight in true sense. In fact, in the same month, he was picked up by Kings XI Punjab in the auction ahead of IPL 2020.
2.) Ravi Bishnoi is a crafty leg-spinner who has shown his best at the Under 19 World Cup for India earlier this year. He googly is enough to confuse the batters often. He ended the Under 19 World Cup with 17 wickets at an average of 11.61 and an economy of 3.48. It included three four-wicket hauls in the tournament- an outstanding 4/5 against Japan, a match-winning 4/30 against New Zealand, and another 4/30 against Bangladesh in the finale. Although India failed to win the tournament, the young spin prodigy proved his ability to control the middle overs and pick up wickets at an important stage.
3.) For Bishnoi, it wasn’t easy to convince his headmaster’s father to pursue a cricket career. Moreover, he didn’t have a place to practice. At this point, he did something unthinkable with two of his friends. They decided to start an academy. But they did not had budget to even afford a JCB to level the field. So, they decided to take it upon themselves and thus Spartans Cricket Academy came into being. He shared his story on Kings XI Punjab’s official website, “Our ground used to be just a patch of barren land filled with rocks. We cleared those rocks ourselves because back then we couldn’t afford a JCB truck. Then, we planted the grass on the ground ourselves, the special red mud needed for the wicket was also ordered by us, and we leveled the playing surface as well.”
4.) Although Bishnoi was keener to become a fast bowler but it was a ‘googly session’ that converted his interest forever. His love for the art of leg-spin eventually helped him to develop a googly that became his forte. Like other, Bishnoi has his story of struggles. Not only at home, he had to face challenges outside as well for around three years. The age-group trials for two years were not enough but an appeal from his coach convinced the selectors to give him a chance.
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