‘Can’t describe Ishan Kishan’s wicket in words’:Naveen Kumar Singh shares his experience in RR camp, praises Shane Bond amid IPL

Breaking the traditional path of Indian cricket, Haridwar’s young fast bowler Naveen K. Singh has made a remarkable entry into professional cricket. Without playing any age-group tournaments like Under-16 or Under-19, Naveen has directly stepped into senior-level cricket and is now part of the Rajasthan Royals camp in the IPL. Hailing from Jalalpur Kalan village, Naveen’s journey reflects determination and belief. In a system where most players rise through structured levels, his story stands out as a rare example of talent finding its way despite limited early opportunities. Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, Naveen shared his struggles, growth, and ambitions, giving a glimpse into the mindset of a player who is steadily building his career. Naveen’s early struggles and lack of guidance Naveen admitted that the initial phase of his journey was challenging due to limited facilities and proper guidance in Uttarakhand. He said, “In the beginning, the biggest lack was guidance. Earlier, there were fewer facilities in Uttarakhand. As I entered professional cricket, then I understood how things work. Now the environment is much better than before.” Despite these hurdles, he stayed focused and worked hard to improve his game. ‘If you are fit you can play cricket for long time’ – Naveen Kumar Singh For Naveen, fitness has been the most important factor in his progress. “Fitness. I always say – you can’t stay fit by playing cricket, but if you are fit, you can play cricket for a long time.” He believes that staying physically strong helps players maintain consistency and perform at a high level over time. Also read: Ravindra Jadeja’s gun celebration against CSK: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi records second-fastest half-century for RR Family support and career turning point Like many athletes from middle-class families, Naveen initially struggled to convince his family. He mentioned “Initially, the family wasn’t fully convinced, which is common in middle-class families. But as I performed, their support grew. Today they stand strongly with me.” The turning point of his career came during the Uttarakhand Premier League. “Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL). Didn’t do that well in Season-1, but took 10 wickets in 5 matches in Season-2. My mindset had changed. From there, I got opportunities for IPL franchise trials,” he further added. Naveen Singh dismissed Ishan Kishan in debut match One of the most special moments of his career was dismissing a top player like Ishan Kishan in his debut match. “Very special. There was pressure initially because Ishan sir is a big player, but when I got him out, that moment cannot be described in words. That wicket will be remembered for life.” Learning at Rajasthan Royals camp Naveen described his experience with Rajasthan Royals as highly enriching. “There’s a lot to learn. There’s no pressure there, just healthy competition. Watching and learning from senior players helps improve significantly.” He also shared valuable advice from bowling coach Shane Bond. he said, “His simple mantra is – bowl according to the pitch and conditions. Don’t think too much, make a plan and execute it properly.” Strengths, goals and message for the youths Talking about his game, Naveen highlighted his strength and areas of improvement. He continued, “My bouncer is my biggest strength. But currently I’m working more on my yorker to make it even better.” Also read: Deja vu for PBKS, GT in Mullanpur campaign opener: Punjab begin hunt for maiden IPL, Gill’s strike rate a concern for Gujarat While he dreams of representing India, his current focus remains on consistent performance. He added further, “Every player dreams of playing for Team India. But for now, my focus is on consistently performing well in domestic cricket.” His strong message for the youths, “Never give up. Many times it will feel like nothing is happening, but keep working hard consistently. Consistency is very important. I didn’t play age-group cricket, yet I have reached here if you work hard, you will definitely get an opportunity.”