“I want to represent India in all three formats,” says Kumar Kushagra regarding his aspirations for the future and his meeting with MS Dhoni.

The nation’s capital has been hit by a bone-chilling cold wave, yet youthful talent Kumar Kushagra seemed unfazed by the bitter cold. Only one day after being called up to the India A squad, the 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, made headlines. During the current Ranji Trophy 2024 season at the Palam Air Force Ground, he scored a scorching century against Services that demonstrated his resilience and talent.

At 65 for 4, Jharkhand was in a terrible position when Kumar Kushagra regarding his aspirations for the future joined his skipper, Virat Singh, at the crease.

With Singh making a creditable 108, the pair’s remarkable 171-run partnership for the fifth wicket swung the match in Jharkhand’s favour. With 14 boundaries in his blazing 132-run innings, Kushagra led Jharkhand to a first-inning total of 316.

After the play of the day, Kumar Kushagra regarding his aspirations for the future considered his strategy in the face of difficult circumstances in the chilly environs of Delhi, where seaming conditions and strong winds added to the difficulty. He said,

It’s challenging to play in the cold in Delhi. We were four down due to seaming conditions and wind influence. My goal, then, was to remain outside and score runs. The same talk I had with Virat [Singh] Bhaiyya was that we might work together to get the team to a comfortable place. That, then, was the main concept. Runs continued to come in, and eventually we accomplished the goals.”

Kumar Kushagra regarding his aspirations for the future’s century arrived just a day after he was included in the India A team for the forthcoming matches against the England Lions. The teenage cricket player views this call-up as a fantastic chance to fulfill his ambition of playing for his nation.

“Being selected for India A presents a favorable prospect for me. For a few days now, I’ve been playing the red-ball format. Although I have an IPL contract, I still intend to concentrate on the lengthier format. Thus, it’s a great opportunity, and if I can make the most of it, it will only help me realize my goal of representing my country in sports,” he continued.

Thinking back to his previous triumphs, Kumar Kushagra remembered saving Jharkhand in the 2021–22 season with a formidable 266 against Nagaland in the pre–quarterfinals and a gritty half-century against Tamil Nadu. Declaring that he wanted to play all formats for India, he accepted the difficulties but did not waver in his goal.

It’s not easy to become an all-format player, particularly in India. While some players specialize in one particular format, becoming an all-around player requires more work. However, he stated, “It is my desire to represent India in all three formats.

Recognizing the difficulties in staying on Indian tracks, Kumar Kushagra consults with professionals such as Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja.

Keeping up with India’s bowlers, whether they be quick bowlers or spinners, is never simple. Furthermore, it goes without saying that ambitious dreams require a lot of labor. I so never stop learning new ideas and using them in my work. I talk to various keepers all the time. I asked Wriddhi da, who I met at the airport in Kolkata, what changes I could make. Kumar Kushagra continued, “I really chatted with Ravindra Jadeja at the NCA about how to tackle a spinner from behind the wickets.

There will be pressure, but it won’t stop me from achieving my objective: Kumar Kushagra

After winning an incredible INR 7.2 crore contract with the Delhi Capitals at the IPL auction, Kushagra is both eager and a little anxious to join a group that includes legends of the game like David Warner and Rishabh Pant. Although he is aware of the strain, he is not losing sight of his ultimate objective—playing for Team India.

“There will be pressure, but it won’t stop me from pursuing my personal objective of one day playing for India. People’s opinions of me have altered as a result of the seven crore price tag, and they have high expectations. However, he continued, “playing for Team India is my dream, and the IPL is just the beginning.”

Kumar Kushagra, who hails from the same state as the renowned cricket player MS Dhoni, says he admires and looks up to the former captain. Although he hasn’t got the opportunity to meet Dhoni yet, he is eager to pick his brain during the Indian Premier League.

“I just started keeping after observing him. Kumar Kushagra said, “It is really inspirational that he is from a small city and has influenced players all over the world.”