During the 2020 World Cup, U-19 bowler Ravi Bishnoi became a name to watch. He recently shared his excitement about fulfilling a lifelong dream by meeting his sporting idol, Anil Kumble.
Ravi Bishnoi the U-19 Indian bowler had everyone wondered through the 2020 World Cup journey in 2020, now Bishnoi shares about the bucket list to check off in the future by first meeting Bishnoi’s childhood idol Anil Kumble.
Now part of the Kings XI Punjab roster following the IPL auction, Bishnoi is training under Kumble's guidance and is keen to pick the veteran's brain. Beyond his current training, he aspires to one day represent the senior Indian team, drawing on the confidence he gained during his 2020 U-19 World Cup campaign.
As the top wicket-taker for India's junior side, Bishnoi credits his success to his discipline in attacking the stumps. This approach was evident during the tournament in South Africa, specifically at the Potchefstroom ground, where he managed to take 17 wickets in 6 outings.
Bishnoi's impact was felt in key matches, securing four wickets each against Japan and New Zealand, as well as four in the high-stakes final against Bangladesh. He views his time at the World Cup as a milestone in his career, largely due to the interactions he had with international cricketers.
Reflecting on the tournament, the young bowler pointed to the thrill of competing against powerhouse teams like Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Despite winning 'Player of the Match' twice, the experience ended on a bittersweet note, as he recalled the heavy atmosphere in the dressing room after the final.
Interestingly, Bishnoi started his journey as a medium-pacer before transitioning to spin, as he found he had a better feel for how the ball reacted upon hitting the pitch. While he still enjoys medium-pace bowling occasionally, his true inspirations are Shane Warne—for his mastery of the googly—and Anil Kumble.
He admires Kumble's ability to bowl with speed and precision right at the stumps, forcing batsmen into mistakes. Consequently, Bishnoi's first request to the legend is to learn the art of the flipper, trusting Kumble's expertise in high-velocity spin.