Kumar Kushagra Scores Half-Century for India A Against Afghanistan A

Kumar Kushagra (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra once again showcased his talent on the big stage with a composed half-century for India A in the Tri-Nation A Series clash against Afghanistan A. Coming in at a challenging situation with India A struggling at 129/3, Kushagra played a mature innings under pressure. The right-hander mixed caution with timely aggression and scored a valuable 58 off 67 balls before being dismissed by Faridoon Dawoodzai. The knock was particularly significant as it came in his first India A appearance of the series. Kushagra stitched together a crucial partnership with captain Tilak Varma and helped steady the innings after the loss of early wickets and helped the team post a challenging 319/8 in 50 overs in Dambulla.

Who is Kumar Kushagra?

Kushagra has been regarded as one of India's most promising wicketkeeper-batters since his teenage years. The Jharkhand cricketer shot to prominence in 2022 when he broke a long-standing world record held by Pakistan great Javed Miandad. During his maiden Ranji Trophy season, Kushagra smashed 266 off just 269 balls against Nagaland in a pre-quarterfinal match. At the age of 17 years and 144 days, Kushagra became the youngest batter in first-class cricket history to score 250-plus runs in an innings. With this, he surpassed Miandad's 46-year-old record that had stood since 1975. The innings announced his arrival on the domestic scene and highlighted his ability to play long innings despite being known for his aggressive strokeplay. His rise continued through the age-group ranks. Kushagra's first major breakthrough came in the 2016 Vinoo Mankad Trophy. Three years later, he emerged as the highest run-scorer in the tournament, piling up 535 runs in seven matches in the 2019 edition. The performances earned him a place in India's squad for the U-19 World Cup. Kushagra also impressed impressed with his explosive performances in the Deodhar Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. His performances caught the attention of IPL franchises and he got a lucrative contract with Delhi Capitals for Rs 7.2 crore ahead of the 2024 season. At the 2025 IPL auction, he was acquired by Gujarat Titans, who retained him for the 2026 season.

Kumar Kushagra Career Stats

Kumar Kushagra: First-Class Cricket

Matches: 33

Runs: 2113

Highest Score: 266

Average: 41.43

Hundreds: 5

Fifties: 5

Catches: 53

Stumpings: 15

Kumar Kushagra: List A Cricket

Matches: 37

Runs: 1276

Highest Score: 143*

Average: 53.16

Hundreds: 2

Fifties: 9

Strike Rate: 95.93

Catches: 36

Stumpings: 3

Kumar Kushagra: T20 Cricket

Matches: 33

Runs: 694

Highest Score: 86*

Average: 27.76

Strike Rate: 145.18

Fifties: 5

Catches: 25

Stumpings: 3