Ravi Bishnoi’s elevation to the Indian team can literally be termed as ‘ground-breaking’. Hailing from Jodhpur in western Rajasthan, primarily a desert region, pursuing cricket professionally is an achievement in itself. And Bishnoi went far beyond that on Wednesday when he was picked in the Indian T20I team for the series against West Indies next month.
Due to poor cricketing infrastructure in Jodhpur, budding cricketers were forced to travel to cities like Bikaner, Jaipur or Udaipur to hone their skills. But Bishnoi did not have to do that thanks to former Rajasthan players, Shahrukh Pathan and Prabhjot Singh, who later became his coaches. The opening up of their cricket academy, which was inaugurated by former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar in 2016, paved the way for Bishnoi.
Right physique
“Ravi had once bowled to us in the nets when I was a U-19 state player and Prabhjot was in the U-23 team. He was bowling medium pace, but we saw him shadow-practising leg spin and encouraged him to take it up. He had the right physique to excel,” Pathan told mid-day on Thursday.
However, Bishnoi’s struggle was not just limited to rejections at several trial camps. He also had to convince his parents, especially his father Mangilal, a government school teacher.
“Both of us [Pathan and Prabhjot] were employed in a private firm when Ravi insisted that we do something for cricket. So, we quit our jobs and decided to open an academy. Our aim was to produce at least one India cricketer. We got a tiny plot on rent, pumped in our savings and took donations from friends as well. We were on a shoestring budget, but Prabhjot, Ravi and myself, along with a few other aspiring cricketers literally worked on the ground like labourers. From mixing cement to straining clay, we did it all,” recalled Pathan.
Nearly quit cricket
Bishnoi nearly quit the sport after he was ignored at the state U-19 trials. His father wanted him to focus on his academics. Had it not been for a recommendation by Dishant Yagnik, currently the fielding coach of Rajasthan Royals, Bishnoi would not have got his U-19 breakthrough. “I got a call from Pathan to urge the selectors to have a look at Ravi again. I had seen Ravi when he came as a net bowler for our RR camp. I joked to Pathan that he shouldn’t worry because if Ravi doesn’t make it to the U-19 state team, he is India material anyway. I spoke to a Rajasthan junior selector and Ravi got selected,” Yagnik said.
