Indian throw down specialist refused offer from the ECB twice

Not many might know this man but he’s quite famous in the Indian cricketing circles. D Raghuvendra is one of India’s throw down specialists who works with the team in the nets. You might have noticed him in numerous practice session videos where he throws the ball in line and length the batsmen desire.

The fact that he was offered a contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is a significant proof of his distinguished personality. The ECB reportedly doubled the offer from what he currently makes but he turned it down. It was his desire to stay with the Indian team that inspired this decision.

“He declined the offers from other boards, mainly from the ECB. He wants to stay with the Indian team,” said a team official as per Bangalore Mirror.

Nicknamed Raghu, he was just another passionate fan who wanted to meet Indian cricketers once upon a time. He travelled all the way from Bangalore to Mumbai just to meet Sachin Tendulkar. Since he couldn’t afford a hotel stay, he slept in a Bandra graveyard before he met Tendulkar at his residence the next day.

While he may be famous for his throw downs, Raghu also works with the logistics department of the Indian cricket team. Skipper Virat Kohli has often acknowledged the fact of his side arm deliveries are paced somewhere around 140-150 kph. He has always assisted the Indian batsmen in their preparations for a home series or ahead of a key overseas tour like the one they are currently involved in.

To prepare for the bounce in South Africa, he bowled to Kohli from a shorter distance. Until recently, Raghu was earning an annual package of INR 6 lakhs from the Board of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI). However, now the amount has been increased more than three times. He now earns INR 20 lakhs a year.