Meet Ravi Kumar: Son of CRPF jawan who wreaked havoc against Bangladesh in U19 WC – In Pics

Son of a CRPF jawan, Ravi was born in Kolkata on October 29 in 2003. However, later his family moved to Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, where he started playing tennis-ball cricket. Ravi’s childhood coach Arvind Bhardwaj taught him the nuances of the game and then he returned to Kolkata only to ply his trade for Bengal.

As per national selector Devang Gandhi, Ravi’s future looks bright and he can definitely make his place in Team India as a left-arm pacer because the youngster understands the importance of diet, gym, training and all that goes into the making of an international cricketer.

Ravi has the ability to move the ball both ways and can deliver unplayable cutters. The pacer showcased his rare talent when he had right-handed Mahfijul Islam (2) beaten all-ends up to an inswinger in the second over during the match against Bangladesh.

'He is a very hardworking boy and if you ask me, Devang worked a lot on his mental aspect. Also his biggest asset is the ability to get the ball to swing in to the right handers. ''That is his stock delivery and he works that ball a lot in the nets,'' Ghosh Dastidar, who was a student of Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation's first batch, alongside Javagal Srinath and Ashish Winston Zaidi, told PTI.

As per officials in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), southpaw Ravi who played for Ballygunge United had come for U-16 Bengal trials in 2019 but was rejected after he failed to clear the TW3 (Bone test for age verification) test.

However, a good CAB T20 league tournament for Kanchenjungha Warriors got him into Bengal U-19 reckoning as former India opener and national selector Devang Gandhi and assistant coach (bowling) Jayanta Ghosh Dastidar worked with him.

A few months back Ravi was just another outstation cricketer who was plying his trade in Kolkata club cricket. The 18-year-old had his share of twists and turns before he became the pace spearhead for India colts in the tournament.

During Vinoo Mankad (U-19) National One Dayers was being held, the grapevine is that the feelers sent from the local state association were to watch out Ravi's pace bowling partner Debopratim Halder, who was considered a better prospect.

But national selectors' attention was caught by Ravi, who was then inducted into the India U19 Challengers Squad.