It was a proud moment for Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj on Wednesday, July 23, as he was handed his maiden India Test cap in the fourth match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at Old Trafford, Manchester. Drafted due to a spate of injuries among Indian pacers, Kamboj will be looking to make the most of this long-awaited opportunity.
Childhood Coach Recalls a Pivotal Turning Point
Kamboj’s childhood coach, Satish Rana, reflected on the seamer’s inspiring journey and revealed that in 2020, Anshul Kamboj came close to giving up cricket altogether. The disappointment stemmed from missing out on the U-19 World Cup squad due to injury, a moment that profoundly affected the youngster.
“That was the only time I saw him cry,” said Satish, in an interview with The Times of India. “He wanted to quit. But his father, Udham Singh ji, encouraged him. He told him, ‘Beta, bas tappa pakad ke daalta reh’ — just stick to your length and keep bowling.”
That advice turned out to be the fuel Anshul needed. He stayed determined, continued training with focus, and eventually climbed back up the ranks.
A Story of Discipline and Determination
Despite not being initially selected for India’s squad against England — even after impressing for India A — Kamboj didn’t lose heart. Satish fondly recalled how the pacer returned to the academy the very next morning, bringing Duke’s balls to practice with and quietly bowling to a single stump.
“I asked him, ‘Sab theek?’ (All okay?), and he calmly said, ‘Sir, I am hopeful.’ That optimism, backed by relentless hard work, has brought him here. He is a shining example of dedication, discipline, and perseverance,” Satish said with pride.
A Father’s Wish Turns Into a Cricket Dream
Anshul’s father, Udham Kamboj, shared that his son’s cricket journey began with a simple goal — to help him lose weight.
“He was overweight, and I just wanted to get him in shape,” Udham revealed.
“𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒚, 𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆 — 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌.”
Anshul Kamboj, who made his First-Class debut in 2022, was brought into India’s squad for the fourth Test after both Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh were ruled out due to injuries. Now, with his debut cap in hand, he has turned adversity into achievement, and his story stands as a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of setbacks.
Also Read: Kuldeep Yadav Net Worth, Salary & Endorsements: A Look at His Earnings
