Kunal Singh Rathore's dream of playing in IPL is finally happening as he is set to Rajasthan Royals' latest debutant. A cricketer from the small town of Kota in Rajasthan, Kunal’s journey is one of steady growth and untiring dedication. He is all set to become the first player from Kota to feature in an IPL match. Let's take a look at Kunal Singh Rathore's career
Kunal Singh Rathore's IPL Dream Takes Flight
The wicketkeeper batsman had an ordinary first season with Rajasthan in first-class and List-A cricket. But, the left-handed Rathore made 147 runs at an average of 36.75 and strike rate of 128.94 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament in 2022 to find his way into the Royals squad before IPL 2023.
While his inclusion in the Royals squad for IPL 2023 made headlines, Kunal spent the season observing from the sidelines, soaking in the environment, learning from seasoned professionals like Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Dhruv Jurel. With inputs from Head Coach and former Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, he worked on refining his technique and mental game.
Rathore returned to domestic cricket with renewed intensity. In the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season, Rathore scored 245 runs, including a maiden century against Manipur, averaging 40.83. He also earned 19 dismissals with the glove.
Rathore accumulated 250 runs in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023-24, India’s premier domestic one-day tournament, at an average of 41.66 and got 24 dismissals, helping Rajasthan reach the finals.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 107 runs at an average of 35.66 and his strike rate went up from 128.94 in the previous year to 152.85 in the current year.
