India A vs Afghanistan A, Tri-Series: Who is Kumar Kushagra? Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman who once broke Javed Miandad’s world record

ByTech Word News

Kumar Kushagra (BCCI photo) NEW DELHI: Jharkhand wicketkeeper-spinner Kumar Kushagra once again showcased his talent on the big stage with a composed half-century for India A in the Tri-Nation A Series clash against Afghanistan A.Faced with a tough situation with India A struggling at 129/3, Kushagra played a mature innings under pressure. The right-hander mixed caution with timely aggression and scored a valuable 58 off 67 balls before being dismissed by Faridoon Dawoodzai. The knock was particularly significant as it came in his first edition of the India A series. Kushagra put together a key partnership with skipper Tilak Varma to help settle the runs after the loss of the first wickets to help the Dambulla team post a challenging 319/8 in 50 overs.

Who is Kumar Kushagra?

Kushagra is regarded as one of India’s most promising goalkeepers since his teenage years. The Jharkhand cricketer made his mark in 2022 by breaking the long-standing world record held by Pakistan great Javed Miandad.During his first Ranji Trophy season, Kushagra smashed 266 off just 269 balls in the pre-quarterfinal match against Nagaland. At the age of 17 years and 144 days, Kushagra became the youngest batsman in the history of first-class cricket to score more than 250 runs in an innings. This broke Miandad’s 46-year-old record that had stood since 1975.The innings heralded his arrival on the domestic scene and highlighted his ability to play long innings despite being known for his aggressive stroke play.His rise continued across age groups. Kushagra’s first big breakthrough came in 2016 at the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. Three years later, he became the top run-scorer of the tournament when he amassed 535 runs in seven matches in the 2019 edition. The performances earned him a place in India’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup.Kushagra also impressed with his explosive performances in the Deodhar Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. His performances caught the attention of IPL franchises and he bagged a lucrative Rs 7.2 crore contract with Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2024 season.In the 2025 IPL auction, he was acquired by Gujarat Titans, who retained him for the 2026 season.

Kumar Kushagra Career Statistics

Kumar Kushagra: First Class Cricket

  • Matches: 33
  • Number of rides: 2113
  • Highest score: 266
  • Average: 41.43
  • Hundreds: 5
  • Fifties: 5
  • Catches: 53
  • Stumpings: 15

Kumar Kushagra: List of cricketers

  • Matches: 37
  • Number of rides: 1276
  • Highest score: 143*
  • Average: 53.16
  • Hundreds: 2
  • The 1950s: 9
  • Strike rate: 95.93
  • Catches: 36
  • Stumpings: 3

Kumar Kushagra: T20 Cricket

  • Matches: 33
  • Number of runs: 694
  • Highest score: 86*
  • Average: 27.76
  • Interest rate: 145.18
  • Fifties: 5
  • Catches: 25
  • Stumpings: 3