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Meet Kumar Kushagra: The Young Wicketkeeper Who Earned His First Team India Call-up
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News18•17-10-2026, 06:01
Meet Kumar Kushagra: The Young Wicketkeeper Who Earned His First Team India Call-up
- •Twenty-one-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra has received his maiden national call-up for the final two matches of India's ODI series against New Zealand.
- •Born in Jharkhand, Kushagra began wicketkeeping at the age of ten, heavily inspired by former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
- •He made history in 2022 by becoming the youngest batsman in the world to score over 250 runs in first-class cricket, hitting 266 against Nagaland in the Ranji Trophy.
- •Delhi Capitals bought him for Rs 7.2 crore in the 2024 IPL auction, and he was later signed by Gujarat Titans for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
- •His stellar domestic form, including a century for India A against Australia A and strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, paved the way for his selection.
Key Questions Answered
Kumar Kushagra has received his maiden national call-up to the Indian ODI squad for the final two matches of the five-match series against New Zealand.
In 2022, at seventeen years and 141 days old, he became the youngest batsman in the world to score over 250 runs in first-class cricket by hitting 266 runs against Nagaland.
Gujarat Titans signed Kumar Kushagra for Rs 65 lakh in 2025 and retained him for the 2026 season, where he made his franchise debut against Rajasthan Royals.
