Gautam Gambhir and Chandrakant Pandit kicked aside as Angkrish Raghuvanshi shows his true colours after batting heroics vs Delhi

Kolkata Knight Riders youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi expressed his deep appreciation for his mentor, Abhishek Nayar. Angkrish Raghuvanshi emphasized Abhishek Nayar’s role in honing his skills through rigorous training and support in various aspects of his life.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi marked his Indian Premier League debut innings with a half-century against the Delhi Capitals. He showcased his sublime form and batting prowess in the Kolkata Knight Riders‘ 106-run victory in Vishakapatnam on Wednesday, April 3.

The 18-year-old batter achieved his first IPL century with just 25 runs. He amassed 54 runs off 27 balls, including five boundaries and three sixes, before being dismissed by Anrich Nortje. The KKR team posted a total of 272 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs.

Abhishek Nayar Has Helped Me In Every Way – Angkrish Raghuvanshi

During the post-match press conference, Angkrish Raghuvanshi described Abhishek Nayar as his guiding light, praising his rigorous training methods and unwavering support across various facets of his life, including diet, practice, and professional endeavors.

“Abhishek Nayar has helped me in every way. The way I think about the game during the game. The way I work towards the game. The things I eat, the way I train. He is basically my guru and everything. That’s my relationship with him. I have learned a lot from him.,” Raghuvanshi said.

Raghuvanshi, batting at No. 3, teamed up with Sunil Narine to wreak havoc on the field, adding 104 runs in just 48 deliveries. Narine contributed a quickfire 51 off 24 balls, while Raghuvanshi scored 49 runs off 24 deliveries, effectively strengthening KKR’s innings.

Raghuvanshi and Narine propelled KKR’s score from 60/1 to 164/2 before Narine’s dismissal. However, before the young talent could further display his batting prowess, Nortje secured his second wicket of the day, delivering a crucial breakthrough for DC.

Just Backed My Instincts And I Trusted That – Angkrish Raghuvanshi

Angkrish Raghuvanshi credited his success to the rigorous training sessions under Abhishek Nayar. Raghuvanshi stated that Nayar’s guidance equipped him to confront challenges on the field confidently.

“The way we have been practicing for the past few weeks that got me used to playing at a good level and that’s how it happened. So it was pretty simple, the way I have been practicing for the past few weeks and past few years, my coach Abhishek Nayar, the way he had made me practice. I didn’t have to think really that much when I got there to play. I just backed my instincts and I trusted that.”

“What I did during practice was enough. The way he has made me practice, he made me face tough circumstances during practice. So nothing will feel that tough in a match.”

At the age of 11, Raghuvanshi moved from Delhi to Mumbai, where he trained under Abhishek Nayar and Omkar Salvi. He represents Mumbai in domestic cricket and has gained recognition in the circuit for his all-round ability.

The Kolkata-based team achieved their highest-ever score in the IPL, surpassing their previous record of 245/6 set against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2018. Their formidable total of 272/7 also secured them the second-highest team total in the history of the tournament.

Also read: Watch: 18-year-old Angkrish Raghuvanshi leaves DC perplexed by reverse swatting Rasikh Salam’s delivery for a six