Ben Stokes Sports Name Of Indian-Origin Doctor On Jersey To Honour Him

Published - 11 Jul 2020, 01:15 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:31 AM

Ben Sokes Vikas Kumar (ECB)

Stand-in England captain Ben Stokes sported the name of Dr. Vikas Kumar on his training jersey to honour him during the Raise The Bat campaign. As international cricket returned after a hiatus of 117 days, England cricket board honoured the NHS staffs for being on the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic fight.

Dr. Vikas Kumar works at the critical care unit of a National Health Service (NHS) Trust hospital at Darlington in Durham. As reported by the Indian Express, he was among those nominated by cricket clubs in England as part of their Raise The Bat campaign. Kumar was left overwhelmed to see Stokes and other putting out a strong message.

Dr. Vikas Kumar with his family. (Courtesy: Vikas Kumar)

Kumar is a cricket enthusiast. He plays for Gilli Boys Amateur Club, formed by Asian-origin players, and Cowgate Cricket Club in nearby Newcastle after shifting to England with his wife and son in 2019. As a schoolboy he dreamt of playing cricket and was also appointed as the official doctor at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi for the India-Sri Lanka Test match about three years ago.

“It was overwhelming to see Stokes and others putting that message out. It’s been very difficult for all of us. NHS staff have made a lot of sacrifices. This recognition is for the entire medical fraternity, including my doctor friends in India,” Kumar, a Delhi University alumni who completed his post-graduate diploma in anaesthesia from Maulana Azad Medical College, told the Indian Express.

“I was a cricket fan, and played for my medical college, but all my family members were into studies. So I had to become a doctor like my brothers,” he added.

On the match front, England trail by 99 runs to the West Indies in Southampton, and will resume day 4 on 15/0.

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