Meet Saurabh Kumar, India's newest Test player

The Uttar Pradesh left-arm spinner quit the Air Force to pursue his ambition of playing professional cricket

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He had a secure central government job with all the perks but his heart pushed him to play professional cricket and earn that coveted India jersey

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"There comes a moment in life when you have to take a decision. Jo bhi ho lena padhta hai," the 28-year-old orthodox left-arm spinner said

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He loved being an Indian Air Force man and part of Indian defence but there was a part in him that felt that he had it in him to play for the country

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Hailing from a middle-class family, his father worked as a Junior Engineer at All India Radio. His parents were supportive of his decision to trade profession with passion

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One of the turning points for Saurabh as a young cricketer was coming under legendary Bishan Singh Bedi's tutelage.

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Saurabh during his two seasons of 51 and 44 wickets had once got a call-up for Irani Cup which had to be called off due to COVID-19 in 2020

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Saurabh was once picked for ₹10 lakh by Rising Pune Supergiants back in 2017 but this time, he went unsold at the IPL auctions.

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Meet Saurabh Kumar, India's newest Test player

The Uttar Pradesh left-arm spinner quit the Air Force to pursue his ambition of playing professional cricket

The UP guy

He had a secure central government job with all the perks but his heart pushed him to play professional cricket and earn that coveted India jersey

Air force job

"There comes a moment in life when you have to take a decision. Jo bhi ho lena padhta hai," the 28-year-old orthodox left-arm spinner said

His statement

He loved being an Indian Air Force man and part of Indian defence but there was a part in him that felt that he had it in him to play for the country

Playing for country

Hailing from a middle-class family, his father worked as a Junior Engineer at All India Radio. His parents were supportive of his decision to trade profession with passion

From Baghpat, UP

One of the turning points for Saurabh as a young cricketer was coming under legendary Bishan Singh Bedi's tutelage.

Training under Bishan Singh Bedi

Saurabh during his two seasons of 51 and 44 wickets had once got a call-up for Irani Cup which had to be called off due to COVID-19 in 2020

Performance in Irani cup

Saurabh was once picked for ₹10 lakh by Rising Pune Supergiants back in 2017 but this time, he went unsold at the IPL auctions.

Unsold at IPL auction