BENGALURU, 9 JULY

“Facing Raghu's 150 kilometres per hour deliveries in the nets make the fastest bowlers in the world seem like medium pacers during matches,” said star batsman Virat Kohli about Indian team’s throwdown specialist Raghavendra during 2017 Champions Trophy in England.

Meet Raghavendra, fondly called Raghu, who has been with Indian cricket team since 2011. The native of Kumta in Uttara Kannada uses a sidearm ball thrower, a cricketing tool shaped like a long spoon, to hurl the ball at speeds ranging from 140-150kmph to test the batters in the nets.

With his ability to deliver balls at speeds higher than bowling machines and from multiple angles, Raghu has been instrumental in helping generations of Indian batsmen adjust to the speed and bounce of pitches in Australia and South Africa. Back home at Kumta after a successful World Cup campaign in the United States and West Indies, Raghu told Salar News “After knowing about a batsman’s strengths and weaknesses, I watch their foot movements and adjust my throws accordingly.”

Kohli once credited Raghu for his success. “I believe the improvement the Indian team has shown while playing fast bowling since 2013 is because of Raghu,” Kohli said.

Raghu said he owed everything to Virat Kohli. “I felt sad when he announced retirement after T20 World Cup.”

The throwdown specialist said the Indian team has had to brave all odds at T20 World Cup 2024 such as bad outfield, washed-out games and uneven bounce of pitches to come out with flying colours.

Raghu’s father, a schoolteacher, disapproved of his craze for cricket and his dreams of wearing the blue jersey. Raghu’s career as a throwdown specialist began when former Indian pacer Javagal Srinath introduced him to Karnataka Ranji team in Bengaluru. Raghu also provided throwdowns to Indian players such as Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid who used to come to National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for training. Impressed by Raghu’s abilities, Srinath recommended him name to Board of Control for Cricket in India, and since then, he has been a constant presence in the Indian team.

Cricket writer Joseph Hoover who has seen Raghu’s journey from local cricket to the national team said he is crazy about Bangarpet pani puri and he would even take a train from Bengaluru to Bangarpet to relish his favourite snack. —Salar News