He took 10 wickets in Ranji. He rattled England’s top order on his debut. And now, the entire cricketing world is watching.
From Net Bowler to National Spotlight
Every Test series has its headlines: Kohli vs Root, Bumrah vs Anderson, Bazball vs bounce-back.
Kamboj’s domestic record suggested readiness — 74 wickets in 22 first-class matches, including a 10-wicket innings haul in the 2024 Ranji Trophy.
By stumps, he had delivered 16 overs, 4 maidens, and claimed 2 wickets for 41 runs, including a searing in-swinger that uprooted the stumps and stunned the crowd.
A Debut That Shifted the Spotlight
The fourth Test between India and England had all the makings of a blockbuster — elite batting line-ups, world-class seam attacks, and a series finely poised.
What If He Takes Two Wickets Today?
In the buildup, fans debated the same thing across social media threads and forums:
“If he even takes 2–3 wickets, the internet will explode.”That threshold wasn’t just met — it was met with control, poise, and purpose.Kamboj didn’t just perform. He placed himself firmly on the radar of selectors, analysts, and millions of fans.
One Spell, One Delivery, One Future Unlocked
Bowling with precision and discipline, Kamboj’s figures — 16 overs, 4 maidens, 2 for 41, economy 2.56 — only tell part of the story.The real headline came from a single delivery: full, fast, and tailing in late. It pierced the defense, uprooted off stump, and turned heads from dressing rooms to commentary boxesNo excessive celebration followed. Just a brief smile. A quiet return to his mark.
From 10 Wickets in Ranji to Two on Debut — The Rise of Rewari’s Silent Warrior.Raised in Rewari, Haryana, Kamboj trained on cement pitches, often with borrowed shoes and plastic balls.There were no scholarships. No U-19 headlines. Only perseverance.
“This Is Not Passion — It’s Obsession”
“I feel like I was made for cricket. It’s not just passion — it’s obsession.”That obsession was visible on debut — in the way he controlled his lengths, respected the red ball, and treated every over like it was part of a larger plan.No theatrics. No adrenaline-fueled gestures.
The Commentary Box Weighed In
Seasoned broadcasters quickly took notice:
- Harsha Bhogle: “He looks like he’s played 20 Tests already. Seam position is artful.”
- Sunil Gavaskar: “Test-match ready. He hits the hard lengths with control.”
- Nasser Hussain: “Not just filling a gap — he’s auditioning for a long-term role.”
- Sanjay Manjrekar: “There’s an old-school toughness in him. Reminds me of the dependable workhorses.”
- “That’s a future leader of India’s attack.”
Is He the Backbone India Needs in Overseas Tests?
With Mohammed Shami recovering from injuries, Bumrah on a monitored workload, and Siraj often carrying the burden abroad, India’s pace depth faces real scrutiny.Kamboj may not bring raw pace like Umran Malik or Shami.
Bhogle pictured him on green Headingley tracks.
Gavaskar labeled him a Day 3 enforcer.
Hussain saw a “quiet destroyer” India has long needed in SENA conditions.
Beyond IPL Grooming: A Test Match Mindset
Mentorship from Ravichandran Ashwin proved pivotal.
“Kamboj has an old-school soul,” Ashwin said. “He’s not in it for glamour — he’s in it for grind.”
A Glance at the Numbers That Back the Buzz
Debut Test – 4th Test vs England (Manchester):
- Overs: 16
- Maidens: 4
- Runs: 41
- Wickets: 2
- Economy: 2.56
- Highlight: Clean-bowled top-order batter with an in-swinger
- First-Class Matches: 22
- Wickets: 74
- Average: 22.66
- Best: 10/57
- IPL 2025 (CSK): 8 wickets in 8 games
- Why This Debut Matters for Indian Cricket’s Future
It’s looking for a Test-match engine — a bowler who can bowl 18 overs on Day 4 in Johannesburg, or hold up one end in Christchurch.Anshul Kamboj might just be that bowler.
A New Chapter Begins — Silently, Sharply
Anshul Kamboj didn’t enter with fanfare.
He entered with control— just perhaps — the boy from Karnal, who was never meant to be in the XI, just bowled the first over of a new era in Indian Test cricke
FOR MORE BLOGS – beyondthepunchlines.com
Author: Anjali Pandey
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