Angkrish Raghuvanshi — Inspired by a mentor, driven by a dream

There is a bright, wide smile and a sparkle in Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s eyes when you mention the name Abhishek Nayar. The former Mumbai all-rounder and current assistant coach of the Indian men’s cricket team has been a beacon of support every step of the way in Raghuvanshi’s cricket career.

The 20-year-old was born into a sports-loving family in Delhi — his mum and dad used to play basketball and tennis, respectively. However, watching and playing cricket with the other children in the building was what fascinated a young Angkrish the most.

So, when an opportunity arose to train under Nayar at the Indian Sports Academy (ISA) in Wilson College, Mumbai, the then 11-year-old grasped it with both hands.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s tryst with the Kolkata Knight Riders will continue into 2025, with the franchise snapping him up at the auction for Rs 3 crore.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

“My uncle said, ‘Why don’t you come and try it [ISA] for a month? It was my school vacation, so I went. I felt the culture of cricket, the culture of practice, the things I learnt in that one month; it was so much that I asked my parents if I could do it full time,” Raghuvanshi told Sportstar on the sidelines of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he is representing Mumbai.

There is an air of reverence every time Raghuvanshi speaks about his mentor. Many cricketers in the past have spoken about how Nayar helped them transform their careers, and it is no different with the young Mumbai opener.

“Everyone talks about role models and how you need to have the right role model. So, when you look at someone going about their life… I think that’s what makes him so special because when people look at him, they want to be like him,” he said.

“I want to be like him, the way he lives life with intensity and passion. As a coach, what makes him special is that he doesn’t just want to make you a better cricketer; he wants to make you a better man, a better human,” he added.

Raghuvanshi climbed up the rungs in Mumbai school cricket, although he couldn’t represent the State due to the cooling-off period after moving from Delhi. He got a chance at the Under-16 level, but by his admission, the stint didn’t go very well.

The COVID-19-induced break gave him a chance to refine his game with Nayar, and despite losing a year of cricket due to the lockdown, the batter found a spot in the India U-19 team for the 2022 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Raghuvanshi finished as India’s highest run-getter in the tournament with 278 runs in six matches, as the team, led by Yash Dhull, won its fifth title.

“I think just representing your country is the proudest moment. And when we won, when we got to raise the flag, I had never felt anything like it in my life before,” the opener said.

“But more than that, I think the memories I made working with the coaches [VVS Laxman (mentor) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (head coach)] and the friends I met, I think I will remember that for life,” he added.

In the two years since, Raghuvanshi has continued to rise up the ladder, playing U-23 cricket before making his white-ball debut for Mumbai in 2023 and red-ball debut in 2024.

In the last two years, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has risen up the ladder, playing Under-23 cricket before making his white-ball debut for Mumbai in 2023 and red-ball debut in 2024.
| Photo Credit:
N SUDARSHAN

He also made his bow in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where Nayar was the coach.

The young batter scored a 27-ball 57 in his maiden innings for the side in a 106-run win over the Delhi Capitals. He played nine more matches in the season, helping KKR to its third IPL crown.

“I got to learn so much from all the players and coaches, even from just watching the matches when I wasn’t playing. I think any tournament you go into, you go to win, so when we went into that [IPL], all of us were trying our best, and when it comes off, then there’s no better feeling,” Raghuvanshi said.

His tryst with the Knight Riders will continue into 2025, with the franchise snapping him up at the auction for Rs 3 crore. The batter said returning to the franchise was a ‘fabulous feeling.’

“I loved the city. I loved the fans, and I will get to play with some faces that I’ve played with before and some new faces too, so I think it will be another good year, and hopefully, I can learn a lot from it,” he said.

Raghuvanshi will be hoping for a bucketload of runs and sparkling performances in the upcoming domestic and IPL seasons to earn a chance to work closely with his beloved coach again, this time in Indian team colours.