Ravi Singh set to play IPL, had ‘sports genes’:Kashi-based cricketer maintains cricket record book; family opens about his journey

When I reached my office, everyone was waiting for me there. SP Vigilance shook my hand and congratulated me on my son’s selection. At that moment, I realised that the name Ravi had now become significant. I will never forget this honour throughout my life. The happiness Ravi has given me is an invaluable joy in life. Saying this, the eyes of Sub-Inspector Prithviraj Singh, posted in the Varanasi branch of UP Police Vigilance, became teary-eyed. Notably, his second son, Ravi Singh, was selected as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL-2026. Ravi has been working in the Railways since 2023 and has also played in the Vijay Hazare Cup and Ranji for the Railways team. Ravi Singh is originally from Imiliyadih, Mau. Rajasthan Royals bought him for 95 lakhs. Thus, there is an atmosphere of celebration in his house. Relatives and neighbours are reaching his house, honouring his parents and feeding them sweets. Ravi, along with others, is currently in a camp in Bengaluru for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, representing Railways. Ravi is posted in Howrah and plays for Railways. To know the story of his struggles after his selection in the IPL, Bhaskar team reached his Varanasi residence. Here, they spoke to his father, mother, and brother Mangalam, who were always ready to drop him at the station, even at four in the morning for matches. Here’s what Ravi’s father, Prithviraj Singh, said about him… Grandfather Dal Singh was an Asiad-level wrestler Ravi Singh’s father, Prithviraj Singh, said, “Our entire family has been in a sports environment. Our father, late Dal Singh, used to be an Asiad-level wrestler. Dal Singh, who was a guru to many wrestlers in the country, also had three sons. Among them, my two brothers, Virendra Pratap Singh and Vijay Pratap Singh, were good (kabaddi) players as well as wrestlers.” Ravi’s father played football for the Indian Police for many years Prithviraj Singh said, “When I joined the police, I came into vigilance in the year 1999 itself. Since then, I have been serving here. I come from the sports quota. I have played in the National Football competition for the Indian Police for many years. I also played cricket, but my interest was in football. However, all three of my sons were interested in cricket since childhood.” Used to come from Pandeypur to BLW Prithviraj Singh said, “In childhood, Jagjit, Ravi, and Manglesh used to play cricket among themselves. Ravi was always seen with a cricket bat. However, later, Ravi’s passion for cricket grew even more. He started coaching at BLW. Faizal, Rajesh Gautam, who is currently running a cricket academy in Ghazipur, Javed Bhai, and Saifai Bhai saw Ravi, understood him, and then refined his game. Ravi Singh started playing for UP in 2016 Father Prithviraj Singh said – BLW’s coaching got him into the UP team, and he played for the UP team in 2016, but he didn’t score well there, even though he played well in the camp. After this, he led the UP team in school cricket. He played the Vijay Hazare Trophy match twice consecutively. Fortune smiled on Ravi in Lucknow Ravi’s father said, “Ravi was sent to Lucknow for good coaching. Here, coach Saurabh Dubey at the IPL Academy honed his game, and he played his last match before the COVID-19 pandemic on 8 March, 2020. After this, his matches resumed post-Corona.” In the year 2023, he was called for a job by Eastern Railway, and after selection, he got the job. Ravi is currently working as a TC at Howrah Station in Eastern Railway. Never feared Injury Any player fears injury, but Ravi never feared injury. Ravi’s father said, “Even after getting injured, Ravi never gave up the sport. After a few days of rest, he would return to the ground. Recently, he was to be selected for the IPL auction.” A few days before that, his chin was split open by a ball in Asansol. But despite that, he went to Hyderabad as he was, and after batting and keeping all day, he was selected for the IPL auction. Now know from younger brother Manglesh about Ravi’s record book, where sometimes motivational quotes and sometimes getting out for zero are written… Always passionate about the game Manglesh is Ravi’s younger brother and plays cricket for the university. He told, “Brother has always been passionate about the game. He never looked back. He used to pray to Baba Vishwanath for his injury to heal as soon as possible, and then would get back to practice. The result of this is that today he has been selected in the IPL.” The truth of every inning in the record book Manglesh showed Ravi’s record book to Bhaskar. It was written there that Ravi played his first match on October 17, 2014, at Sigra Stadium. In that match, Ravi scored 23 runs and lost his wicket by being caught by the bowler. Most of the pages of this record book had motivational thoughts written on them. It also shows that the last match was played on 8 March, 2020, in Samastipur, Bihar. There, he was caught out at mid-wicket after scoring 14 runs. Manglesh said, “Brother used to write his record for that day in this diary after every match and then reflect on where he made a mistake that led to him getting out.” After 2020, Corona came, and after COVID-19, he went to Lucknow. Perhaps the record book after this was made by a brother in Lucknow or Howrah. Ravi is his mother’s darling; he likes makhana and bottle gourd kheer… Ravi’s mother, Manju Singh, said, “All three of my children are pieces of my heart. But Ravi is my darling because he is always away from home. I always waited for him to come. When he leaves, I call him every hour to check on him. He loves bottle gourd and makhana kheer, so it’s always ready before he arrives. Besides this, he also loves Maggi and paneer.” Ravi’s ‘never give up’ attitude Manju said, “When Ravi was young, he always used to walk around with a bat and would start playing cricket with anyone he met. I never stopped him or the other two from playing because my husband, Prithviraj Singh, himself was a sportsman, and he continuously participated in national-level competitions for the police.”