U19 World Cup And IPL Are Two Very Important Platforms For Any Budding Cricketer: Ravi Bishnoi

The Indian U19 team came one step short of clinching their fifth World Cup at the Senwes Park in Potchefstroom this past Sunday. Asian counterparts Bangladesh prevailed in a low-scoring encounter to emerge as champions for the first time. And while disappointment lingered around their failure to capture the crown, individual performances were aplenty.

Ravi Bishnoi, who topped the wicket-taking list in the tournament, named the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the U19 World Cup two important launchpads to play for the Indian senior team.

Even in the eventual defeat that India endured in the final, the Jodhpur-born spinner kept his side in the hunt by taking the first four wickets. At one stage, Bangladesh plummeted to 65-4 from 51-0 in pursuit of 178.

Around his stunning figures of 10-3-33-4 in a losing cause, captain Akbar Ali soaked the pressure by scoring 43 off 77 balls that acted crucial in the Tigers’ victory.

The leg-spinner, who took 17 wickets in six matches, will turn up for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in IPL 2020 and understandably as a leg-spinner, would look up to coach Anil Kumble to upgrade his skills good enough to play for the senior team.

Bishnoi conceded that the IPL and the U-19 competition are the grounds where aspiring players’ performances get recognition, giving the selectors a clear picture.

Hence, he would look forward to providing absolutely everything in his power to make his dream come true.

“The U-19 World Cup, as well as the Indian Premier League, are two very important platforms for any budding cricketer,” Bishnoi said as quoted by India Today.

“These are the tournaments wherein your performances get highlighted and the selectors take note, so I will definitely look to give it my best because at the end of the day, we all dream of playing for the Indian team. Every time I get an opportunity, I will look to give it my 100 per cent,” he added.

The teen sensation is ecstatic to be part of an outfit coached by Anil Kumble and would as far as possible spend plenty of time trying to fine-tune his skills to prove even more threatening to the opposition. India’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket boasts of a rich coaching profile, having mentored Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore apart from serving as the head coach of the Indian national team.

“I am very excited that I will get to spend quality time with none other than Anil Kumble Sir during the IPL and my only lookout is to pick his brain and learn as much as I can. I will look to stay around him and work on the finer areas of my bowling under his guidance.” Bishnoi said in this regard.

Personal records don’t matter for Ravi Bishnoi:

The 19-year-old mystery spinner also claimed that individual records don’t matter as long as the team doesn’t have a trophy lay their hands on.

Bishnoi commented that the sole purpose was for his team to finish on the winning side, which always used to be on his mind.

“I wasn’t there for records. My aim was to win my team games and ultimately come back with the trophy. It was always on my mind that every time I take the field, I should contribute in a manner that we come out triumphant at the end of the game.” he continued further.