Kamlesh Nagarkoti refuses to cut down his pace despite injuries

Rajasthan’s Kamlesh Nagarkoti has been in news for both right and wrong reasons. The teenager has been one of the most exciting talents on the scene of Indian cricket ever since helping India U19 win the Youth World Cup last year. He along with Shivam Mavi wowed the world by bowling close to 150kmph despite being their young age and blew away the opponents.

Both the fast bowlers were handed IPL contracts by Kolkata Knight Riders. Nagarkoti also became the first bowler from Rajasthan to take up a List A hat-trick in a Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter against Gujarat. Then tragedy struck as he suffered a stress fracture of the back and has missed two IPL seasons so far despite being retained by the KKR franchise. But he has returned stronger and was named in the upcoming Emerging Nations Asia Cup.

No question of dropping my Pace, says Nagarkoti

BCCI left no stone unturned to provide Nagarkoti the medical assistance and helped him get better in the least possible time as everyone waited for him to be back, fulfilling his potential. “It was tough, I used to get emotional watching the IPL on TV. All my teammates were playing and I was recovering from an injury. It used to be frustrating but my main aim was to get fit and get back on the ground. I worked really hard for that,” Nagarkoti was quoted as saying by Cricket Next.

The 19-year-old pacer had to make necessary tweaks to his action with the help of his coaches and with a renewed passion for the game will look to add to his 11 wickets in 9 List-A games and play more formats as well. Nagarkoti has undergone constant monitoring at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and worked on the stress fractures to his back, ankle, and heel.

“Coaches told me that my front-foot was going across and that was increasing the pressure on my back, I have made it a bit straighter and I am comfortable with the action. There is no question of dropping my pace. Whatever happened has happened, I am not thinking about it too much. I want to show everyone that I am still the same bowler and I am looking forward to whatever opportunity I get. I have worked hard on my body, diet to regain my fitness,” he signed off.

Nagarkoti will be in action during the upcoming Emerging Teams Asia Cup which will be played in Bangladesh in November.