| Name | Kumar Kushagra |
| Date of Birth | 23-10-2004 |
| Age | 19 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Player Status | Available |
| Playing Role | Wicket-Keeper |
| Bowling Style | RA Leg Spin |
| Batting Style | RH Opening Bat |
| Entry Route (UK) | International Sportsperson Visa |
| Major Teams | India U19s, Jharkhand |
** Only available for the Netherlands **
Kumar Kushagra is, quite simply, a superstar in the making.
An opening batter who keeps wicket, Kushagra has a huge degree of buzz around him, and rightly so after his sensational start to his fledgling career.
Such was his promise, he was whisked into the India U19 side to play the touring Afghanistan side a month after his 16th birthday. He would go on to play 4 of the 5 Youth ODI’s before traveling to South Africa (Dec 2019) for 3 YODI’s.
In Jan 2020, he would play 3 further ODI’s in the South Africa Quadrangular Under-19 Series (against Zimbabwe, and New Zealand. Kushagra would gain selection for the ICC U19 World Cup, albeit would only play the one match, against Japan.
Following COVID, the return of domestic cricket (Feb 2021) would see Kushagra make his professional debut for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A). Several months later (Nov 2021), he would represent the State in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20), before his Ranji Trophy (First Class) debut in February 2022.
It would be an inauspicious start in professional cricket for Kushagra, scoring 57 runs in his first 6 innings. He would, though, go on to score his maiden first-class fifty (50 from 121 balls) in the second innings against Tamil Nadu.
Roll on March 2022, and his third Ranji Trophy outing – a preliminary quarter-final match against Nagaland. He would produce an innings of utter brilliance, showing all in attendance what the buzz is all about. Kushagra would blaze 37 fours, and 2 sixes on his way to a magnificent double century. His 266 runs were scored from only 269 balls as he helped his side to an unassailable first innings total of 880.
Not content with his first innings double, he would go on to smash 89 from 104 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes). Whilst he would miss out in his fourth match – only 2 vs Bengal, Kushagra has concluded his maiden Ranji Trophy season with a tally of 439 runs at 62.71. He had announced himself on the domestic scene.
Kushagra is a remarkable talent, and it’s incredible to think he’s only 18. The youngster is clearly a player with a massive future and it seems only a matter of time before he gets picked up for IPL and higher Indian honours.
The Indian prospect also enjoyed a brief, but productive maiden UK stint in 2023. Playing for Heathcoat in the Devon League, he racked up 3 hundreds amongst 522 runs at 52.20, before his Indian return mid-June due to Duldeep Trophy selection.
Next summer, as Kushagra failed to complete his ECB Core Coach, he is only eligible to play in Holland for the 2024 season.
| Team (Season) | Runs | Ave | Wkts | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathcoat (2023) | 522 | 52.20 | 0 | - |
| Name | Kumar Kushagra |
| Date of Birth | 23-10-2004 |
| Age | 19 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Player Status | Available |
| Playing Role | Wicket-Keeper |
| Player Status | Available |
| Bowling Style | RA Leg Spin |
| Batting Style | RH Opening Bat |
| Entry Route (UK) | International Sportsperson Visa |
| Major Teams | India U19s, Jharkhand |
** Only available for the Netherlands **
Kumar Kushagra is, quite simply, a superstar in the making.
An opening batter who keeps wicket, Kushagra has a huge degree of buzz around him, and rightly so after his sensational start to his fledgling career.
Such was his promise, he was whisked into the India U19 side to play the touring Afghanistan side a month after his 16th birthday. He would go on to play 4 of the 5 Youth ODI’s before traveling to South Africa (Dec 2019) for 3 YODI’s.
In Jan 2020, he would play 3 further ODI’s in the South Africa Quadrangular Under-19 Series (against Zimbabwe, and New Zealand. Kushagra would gain selection for the ICC U19 World Cup, albeit would only play the one match, against Japan.
Following COVID, the return of domestic cricket (Feb 2021) would see Kushagra make his professional debut for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A). Several months later (Nov 2021), he would represent the State in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20), before his Ranji Trophy (First Class) debut in February 2022.
It would be an inauspicious start in professional cricket for Kushagra, scoring 57 runs in his first 6 innings. He would, though, go on to score his maiden first-class fifty (50 from 121 balls) in the second innings against Tamil Nadu.
Roll on March 2022, and his third Ranji Trophy outing – a preliminary quarter-final match against Nagaland. He would produce an innings of utter brilliance, showing all in attendance what the buzz is all about. Kushagra would blaze 37 fours, and 2 sixes on his way to a magnificent double century. His 266 runs were scored from only 269 balls as he helped his side to an unassailable first innings total of 880.
Not content with his first innings double, he would go on to smash 89 from 104 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes). Whilst he would miss out in his fourth match – only 2 vs Bengal, Kushagra has concluded his maiden Ranji Trophy season with a tally of 439 runs at 62.71. He had announced himself on the domestic scene.
Kushagra is a remarkable talent, and it’s incredible to think he’s only 18. The youngster is clearly a player with a massive future and it seems only a matter of time before he gets picked up for IPL and higher Indian honours.
The Indian prospect also enjoyed a brief, but productive maiden UK stint in 2023. Playing for Heathcoat in the Devon League, he racked up 3 hundreds amongst 522 runs at 52.20, before his Indian return mid-June due to Duldeep Trophy selection.
Next summer, as Kushagra failed to complete his ECB Core Coach, he is only eligible to play in Holland for the 2024 season.
| Team (Season) | Runs | Ave | Wkts | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathcoat (2023) | 522 | 52.20 | 0 | - |
