So all of India (and the world actually) would have seen this man on the field when India won the World Cup. This man, who seemed like an ‘civilian’ (not from the team) with kumkum on his forehead, is an extraordinary talent from Karnataka.
A boy who left home with just 21 rupees has been one of the key figures behind Team India for more than a decade now!
A boy who dreamt of becoming a cricketer. Then his hand got fractured, and his cricket dreams shattered. However, determined to find what he lost, today he stands as one of the key contributors to India’s cricketing triumphs.
During the 2017 Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli said, “This man has a huge role in my success today, but his hard work almost always goes unnoticed by the world.”
For those who remember, in the Asia Cup 2023 victory celebrations, it was the players of Team India who brought Raghu out to the centre of the celebrations and asked him to hold aloft the trophy.
He is Team India’s throwdown specialist, Raghavendra Dwivedi (aka Raghu) – hailing from Kumta in the Uttara Kannada district.
Joining the Indian team as a throwdown specialist in 2011, Raghu might have thrown at millions of balls during practice sessions over the last decade. Facing his deliveries, which come at speeds of 150 kph, requires extraordinary courage. When Raghu holds a slinger, no other throwdown specialist in the world can match his speed. Both Rohit & Virat repeatedly have said that facing Raghu’s 150 kph deliveries in the nets make the fastest bowlers seem like medium pacers during matches.
Those who think everything is over in life because of one adversity should hear Raghavendra’s inspiring story.
Raghavendra had an extreme passion for cricket, while his father was allergic to it. Seeing his cricket obsession, one day his father asked him, “What is more important to you, studies and life or cricket?” Without hesitation, with just a bag in hand and 21 rupees in his pocket, Raghavendra left home.
From Kumta, he went straight to Hubli. For a week, he slept at the Hubli bus stand. When the police chased him away, he found refuge in a nearby temple for ten days. Eventually, he had to leave there too and had no choice but to settle in a nearby crematorium.
He made an abandoned building in the crematorium his home, using a mat from a cricket ground as his blanket. For four and a half years, Raghavendra slept in the crematorium and worked odd jobs trying to make it into cricket somehow. During this time, his right hand got fractured, ending his dream of playing cricket. Determined not to return home, he turned his focus to cricket coaching.
Initially, in Hubli, he assisted cricketers by throwing balls and helping with their practice. A friend then guided him to Bangalore. In Bangalore, at one of the Karnataka Cricket grounds, he found shelter. His job was to throw balls to Karnataka cricketers who came for practice and to help them with loading and operating the bowling machine.
One day, former Karnataka wicketkeeper and current Under-19 selection committee chief Tilak Naidu noticed his work. Impressed by Raghavendra’s dedication, Tilak Naidu introduced him to another former Karnataka cricketer, Javagal Srinath.
This was a turning point in Raghavendra’s life. Recognizing the boy’s sincerity, Srinath invited him to join the Karnataka Ranji team. During the cricket season, he worked with the Karnataka team, and when there was no work, he served at the National Cricket Academy near the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
While at NCA, he completed the BCCI level-1 coaching course. He became a favorite among Indian team cricketers who came for practice. Sachin Tendulkar quickly recognized Raghavendra’s talent, leading to his appointment as a training assistant with the Indian team in 2011.
For the past 13 years, Raghavendra has played a significant role in the team’s success.
The world is full of some amazing inspiring stories, one of which is Raghavendra Dwivedi’s.
Wow!!! 👍🏻🇮🇳👏🏻