Desire to play for India motivates me to work harder on my game: Rajneesh Gurbani [Exclusive]

Rajneesh Gurbani was the highest wicket-taker for Vidarbha when they won their maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2017-2018 season. The right-arm speedster won the Player of the Match award in the semi-finals as well as in the final. In the summit clash, he took a hat-trick against Delhi, becoming only the second bowler in Ranji Trophy history to achieve this feat. Gurbani was also a part of the Vidarbha team in the following year when they successfully defended the Ranji title.

Gurbani shifted base to Maharashtra in 2024, ending a nine-year stint with Vidarbha. The 32-year-old is currently playing in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) 2025, where he has picked up eight wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 7.61.

In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Gurbani spoke about his ambitions of representing India, his learnings from stalwarts like Wasim Jaffer, Faiz Fazal, and Umesh Yadav, his personal goals for the impending season, and much more.

Can you give us a brief detail about how your cricketing journey started?

Actually, my schooling was from Mumbai, so I was in St. Mary's school where I used to play various kinds of sports, including athletics, football, badminton and cricket. And in the remaining three sports, I was doing pretty well as compared to cricket. But my father had a keen interest in cricket, and he wanted me to become a cricketer. So he used to make me watch matches, used to watch India-Australia matches early in the morning. So that developed a kind of interest, my interest in cricket. And my professional cricket career started when I was selected for Dilip Vengsarkar Cricket Academy. They used to take trials from Giles Shield tournament. And for the first time, I was selected in that academy. And there I thought from that moment, I thought that yes, I can play cricket. And I started enjoying cricket more. And that is how it started.

So you finished as the highest wicket-taker for your team in the 2017-18 Ranji season. And you also won the Player of the Match award in the semis and in the final, where you also took a hat-trick. Do you feel that is the best you have ever bowled in your career so far?

That has been one of the best moments in my life. And yes, I was in good rhythm and had a very strong mindset that I have to win Ranji Trophy. I have to make my team win the Ranji Trophy. And by God's grace, I was having those magical moments. When and where I was given the ball, I was picking wickets and bowling well. But I also feel that in the past few years, I've been working very hard on my game. And I feel that, yes, I've improved a lot as a bowler, as a person and become more mature. And I feel that the best of me is just yet to come. And I hope next year when I'll be bowling, I'll bowl well and help my team win and lift the trophy this year.

You represented Vidarbha for nine years, and you shared the dressing room with legends like Wasim Jaffer, Umesh Yadav, and Faiz Fazal. So, can you mention one specific thing that you learned from them?

Yes, it was a great blessing for me to have played amongst the pure legends of the game. Wasim Bhai, Faiz Bhai, Umesh Bhai were great legends. And initially, when I met, like, yes, from all three, I've learned a lot of things. Wasim Bhai, I used to just catch hold of Wasim Bhai and ask as many questions about the game as possible from him and take as much knowledge as possible from him. From Wasim Bhai, the one thing that I learned most was the batsman's mindset. What the batsman thinks when I'm bowling an outswing? And when I suddenly bowl and in-swinger, what is the batsman thinking? So, yes, and he used to tell me everything what a batsman thinks, and what field should I have, and the best field, and what one field change can add pressure to the batsman. So, that is what I learned from Wasim Bhai. From Faiz Bhai, actually, Faiz Bhai was more of a friend-come-mentor for me. He always made sure that I was in good space and relaxed. He knew whenever I am bowling with a free mind and swinging the ball, that is what the best comes from me. And he knew how to take the best out of me. And he always told me to bowl with a mindset of picking wickets. And whenever I used to try and bowl economical spells and just put, and just leave the balls, he used to come to me and tell me that you are my wicket taker and always pushed me hard. So, that was what Faiz Bhai was. And Umesh Bhai, yes, Umesh Bhai has always been very inspirational. He was the first fastballer when I was playing and he was playing for the country. So, I always used to feel that I want to share the dressing room with him. I want to be his bowling partner with the new bowl. And when I got that opportunity, I was really very happy. And it was one of the most fanboy moments. I got my Vijay Hazar cap from Umesh Bhai. So, yes, it was very memorable. And all three have been very important in my learning journey of cricket.

You are only 32 years old and bowling really well. It's evident that you have worked very hard on your fitness. So, do you have aspirations for representing the nation?

Yes, definitely. To play for the country is what gets me going and work harder in my game. I am really working very hard on my game and making sure I am one of the fittest guys on the field. I have played India A side in the past. And I know what it is required to get to that level. So, definitely playing for the country gives me great motivation and the thrill to work even harder.

How would you summarise your journey with the Kolhapur Tuskers so far?

Kolhapur Tuskers is a wonderful franchise. And basically, this is one of the best platforms which we are getting to get selected for the IPLs and all. But rather than that, I feel our owner, Punit Balan sir, he is a very passionate person for cricket. And he also owns multiple teams across various sports. So, I think his vision is very clear. And he has made sure that the Kolhapur Tuskers support him. The coaching staff and whatever the players need from the team is at a very high level. I feel very less difference in the treatment as compared to IPL players. I feel very privileged to be in such a wonderful team. And I think it is a very good platform for us to go to the next stage for IPL and for the country.

What are your personal goals for the upcoming domestic season?

Personally, what I aim for this season is I have been working hard on all three formats of the game. And to summarize, I would like to say to win all the three trophies for the Maharashtra Cricket Association is my personal team goal. And I want to be the highest wicket-taker in all three formats of the game.