Former India off-spinner R Ashwin believes that the uncapped Anshul Kamboj belongs to the rare breed of fast bowlers, like Zaheer Khan and Jasprit Bumrah, who are not only skillful but also have an understanding of plans that goes beyond just trying to “express themselves and enjoy the game.”
Kamboj was drafted into the Indian team for the forthcoming fourth Test against England at Old Trafford due to injuries to all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and the pace duo of Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh, which occurred last week.
“The appreciable thing about Anshul is that he understands the plan. I have seen so many fast bowlers. If you ask them about the plan, they just say they want to express themselves and enjoy the game,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
Kamboj, a 24-year-old pacer, has impressed across formats for the last year and risen in the ranks of Indian cricket. Before being purchased for Rs 20 lakh, the Haryana quick shot to fame last season in the Ranji Trophy, where he picked all 10 wickets in an innings against Kerala at Lahli. He ended the season with 34 wickets in six matches.
He also had a stunning performance in Duleep Trophy, finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 16 wickets in three matches at an average of 17.12. His bowling figures of 8/69 in the match between India-C and India-B in Anantapur were the second best in the tournament’s history.
Later, he went one better in the Ranji Trophy with a 10-wicket haul for Haryana against Kerala at Lahli. He was only the third player in the history of India’s premier first-class competition to take 10 wickets in an innings.
Kamboj earned a call-up to the Indian-A team for the tour of England last month and impressed with five wickets in two matches against England Lions.
Overall, he has played in 24 first-class matches and taken 79 wickets at an average of 22.8. The 24-year-old is also a handy batter and made a half-century in the second unofficial Test against the Lions.
Anshul’s brother, Sanyam Kamboj, described the emotion that swept through their home upon hearing the news.
“We are very happy, and the entire family is happy for him,” Sanyam told IANS. He also added, “He used to practice a lot in the academy and only used to go home to sleep.”
