As a child, 19-year-old Raj Angad Bawa would typically put on the then Kings XI Punjab jersey and cheer the crew’s captain Adam Gilchrist and former Indian all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh. Bawa, whose five-wicket-haul made him a star for India within the ultimate of the ICC U-19 World Cup, was picked up by Punjab Kings for 2 crores.
During the public sale, Bawa adopted the motion from his lodge room in Bhubaneswar the place he’s quarantining forward of the Ranji trophy marketing campaign.
“I remember watching the home side Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a kid and would often dream about playing for it one day. I have been a fan of Adam Gilchrist and Yuvraj Singh in his earlier days, and I would cheer for the team. To be picked for the home side feels great and it’s a special feeling for me to get an opportunity to play in a tournament like IPL,” shared Bawa whereas speaking with The Indian Express.
The left-handed batsman and right-handed medium-pacer is the grandson of Tarlochan Singh Bawa, a member of the 1948 London Olympics gold medal-winning Indian hockey crew.
While his father Sukhwinder Bawa was the coach of Yuvraj Singh, Bawa began enjoying cricket in Gurgaon, the place his father was posted as a coach.
Before the U-19 world cup, the place he amassed 252 runs and took 9 wickets, Bawa had smashed 68 runs and eight wickets in the course of the U-19 Asia Cup in Dubai other than scoring 154 runs and eight wickets in U-19 Challenger Trophy.
On Sunday, Bawa, whose base worth was Rs 20 lakh, noticed bidding by groups like Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians earlier than Punjab Kings made the ultimate bid for him.
Bawa, who is predicted to make his debut for Chandigarh in Ranji Trophy, will likely be sharing the dressing room with the likes of South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan.
“Getting the opportunity to play in the IPL after the U-19 World Cup is a special thing. To share the dressing room with players like Kagiso Rabada, who is one of the world’s best bowlers in white-ball cricket, will be a dream come true for me. I am also looking towards spending some time with Shikhar paji and other teammates. It will help me mature as a player. To be able to play in the IPL is a big thing for me. And it is the same when it comes to the Ranji Trophy. Hopefully, I will be able to give my best wherever I play and prove the faith shown by the teams in me,” shared the excited teen.
Bawa’s father, Sukhwinder Bawa, was additionally following the public sale from the Sector 16 Stadium, the place he was coaching younger cricketers.
“I could follow the auction during practice sessions, and it was good to see Raj Angad getting picked by Punjab Kings. Playing in IPL as well Ranji Trophy will help him to adjust his game according to the format and situations, and sharing the dressing room with international players in the IPL will further add to Raj Angad’s confidence,” mentioned Sukhwinder.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
