For Kumar Kushagra, who hadn’t practised for a month on account of a again niggle, the continued All India Buchi Babu invitational match right here has been useful going into the Duleep Trophy.
He scored a fifty (56) and a century (103) within the first two rounds.
“Final month, I had a little bit of a again difficulty. For one month, I wasn’t practising (batting and maintaining) in any respect. Now, I’m completely match. Going into the Duleep Trophy, it (Buchi Babu) is nice for me and for all of the Jharkhand gamers right here. The services, grounds, and surroundings are good,” he stated on the Guru Nanak Faculty floor on Saturday.
The 20-year-old missed the Rising Asia Cup final October and a few Ranji matches after he’d sustained a again harm within the Duleep Trophy in September. “That Asia Cup was a really massive setback for me. And it was essential as effectively, as a result of it was simply earlier than the IPL public sale. So, it may have helped me at that second. The one who helps me (cope with such setbacks) is my dad. Even once I’m not with him, he offers inputs on the telephone and sends some batting movies of gamers who’re enjoying on the worldwide stage,” he stated.
Speaking in regards to the work he’s put into his health for the brand new home season, Kushagra stated: “Earlier than this match, I used to be on the NCA for a number of days and gave my yo-yo take a look at.”
“However earlier than that, once I was at house, I used to be simply working with my dad. I used to be going early at 4:30 or 5 within the morning and dealing on my health, maintaining, and batting. I believe that’s actually serving to me at this second.”
Throughout his stint with the Gujarat Titans final IPL season, Kushagra has labored on his maintaining with inputs from Jos Buttler, Matthew Wade (assistant coach), and Parthiv Patel (assistant coach). “I used to be not a lot snug maintaining to quick bowlers when the ball was wobbling an excessive amount of. So, they simply helped me with how I can sort out that in windy circumstances, particularly in England and all,” he stated.
Kushagra, having already performed for India-A, is among the many focused pool of gamers who may go on to play for India sooner or later. Talking in regards to the confidence it offers for the upcoming home season, he stated: “At any time when you might be within the eyes of the selectors, it undoubtedly helps. that in the event you carry out in these sorts of matches within the Buchi Babu and Duleep Trophy, they are going to undoubtedly assist you to and take you to the Indian crew. However it’s important to be constant on the identical time.
“I believe 21 to 24 is an efficient age to get a debut for the Indian crew, and I’m simply making an attempt to offer my greatest.”
Revealed on Aug 25, 2025