Interesting facts about Kamlesh Nagarkoti - the boy who bowls fast

Kamlesh Nagarkoti, the 18-year-old fast bowler has grabbed all the attention by outpacing the Australian team bowling consistently above the 140kmph mark. Despite a dominating performance from the Indian batsmen, Kamlesh emerged as the most talked about player. His pace mesmerized everyone.

In India’s opening game of the ICC U19 World Cup 2018, his 3/29 was the pick of the Indian bowlers. The Aussies collapsed for 228 falling short of India’s massive target by 100 runs. The youngster not only maintained his pace but also bowled with great discipline. His line and length were on point and he was very economical.

Kamlesh’s ability to clock high speeds without trying too hard came off as a surprise. Having played very limited List A games, he is already considered as a potential candidate for the national team in the coming years. Here are few interesting facts about the young sensation.

1. Birth and career

Kamlesh was born on 28th December in 1999 at Barmer in Rajasthan. The spearhead started his List A career in the 2016-17 season. He is a right-arm fast bowler who can also be handy with the bat. He has previously featured in the Rajasthan U16 and U19 teams before being picked to play for the India U19 team.

2. List A debut

He debuted for Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on February 26th, 2017. He played against the Indian domestic giants, Mumbai in his very first game. In a shortened match of 38 overs per side, Rajasthan lost by 5 wickets. However, the youngster picked Siddarth Lad as his first ever wicket in List A career. He also contributed 21 runs with the bat.

3. Hat-trick in Vijay Hazare Trophy

The young seamer had a decent Vijay Hazare Trophy. His all-round performance against Gujarat, right after his debut was the first time most of the cricket fans noticed him. He helped his team recover from 11/4 and post a target of 189.

He also excelled with the ball picking a hat-trick and changed the course of the game. Not only his bowling figures of 3/30 but also his unbeaten 56 brought him into the limelight. Kamlesh got to his first hat-trick by bowling out Jasprit Bumrah for a duck.

4.  Helped India seal the Youth series against England

Following his debut for Rajasthan, the speedster was called up to play for India in the Youth Series against England. Kamlesh played three ODIs out of the five and scalped 7 wickets. He picked 2 in his first game, 1 and 4 in the next ones. Picking up four in a decider, he helped India seal the ODI Youth series. However, he couldn’t find himself a place in the squad for the two Test matches against England U19 the same tour.

5. Star performer in India U19’s tour of England

He started off his very first considerable overseas tour by picking a ten-wicket haul in the first Youth Test match against England U19. Though he travelled to Sri Lanka with the U23 team, this was the first time he played outside the subcontinent. Kamlesh picked a total of 14 wickets in the two-match series and contributed to India’s victory. The Indian junior team excelled completing a clean sweep both in the Test and ODI series against the home team.

6. Predicted to represent India in a couple of years

India’s interim head coach, Woorkeri Raman heaped praise on the youngster during their tour of England. Impressed by Kamlesh’s performance, Raman predicted that he will be ready to play for India.

“Nagarkoti can be quick, he does extract a fair bit of bounce and he has got really good fitness levels. And he is very athletic. All in all, he is a good package. He can also bat a little bit, he can go on to become an allrounder if he does pay a little bit of attention to his batting, and he is a fabulous fielder. Over the next 2-3 years, if his path is not hindered by things, not in his control, I think he should be there in another three years’ time,” he said.