CHENNAI: Kumar Kushagra always dreamt big. Right from the time he was coming up the ranks in Jharkhand age-group to going for big money in the 2023 IPL mini auction, the 21-year-old has always been one of those talents who was made of bigger things. And over the years, he had ticked the right boxes to build that reputation.
However, somewhere along the line he felt he needed more. He had the shots, the talent and the skills as a gloveman, but Kushagra felt something was missing. His aim is to play for India in all three formats but at the same time, he knew he needed the clarity to get to the next level. Enter Gujarat Titans and Vikram Solanki. First signed by Delhi Capitals in the mini auction, Kushagra found himself in the Titans set up last year where he worked with Solanki and Ashish Nehra.
"Your aim is to play in all three formats of India. You have to do some upgrades in your game. Obviously, I couldn't do it my way. I could only do it with someone's guidance. That should be the best. It should enhance my game. It should enhance my performance. Vikram sir was there. Ashish sir gave a lot of inputs when I came to GT. I had those shots. But I was very much confused that which kind of shots I should play in these kinds of situations. So, that thing, the clarity, plays a very big role. It is slowly coming into me. I'm working very hard on it," Kushagra told this daily.
The youngster warmed the bench through the 2025 season while working on the sidelines with Solanki and Nehra. One of the things was the belief to bat up the order and deliver for the team irrespective of the format. And it all came to fruition as Kushagra smashed 368 runs in Vijay Hazare, 601 runs in Ranji Trophy and 422 in Syed Mushtaq Ali, helping Jharkhand win the T20 title. In Ishan Kishan's absence, he also led the team in the 50-over format. "Before the last season, I was doing a lot of lower down the order. Even in the white ball tournaments, I was playing at No 5-6. I was not getting that much opportunity to reveal myself or justify my game. When I came to the GT camp, they told me that I am a player who can bat at the top of the order. You can build the innings and showcase your performance in your team. So, I went back and told them to let me bat at No 3-4. From there, my game got enhanced. I got more time to bat. I used to open for my team in U16 and U19. When the Ranji Trophy came, there were a lot of senior players who were opening. Initially, I was not getting a chance. But now that I have got a chance, I am trying to use that opportunity. They told me to bat at the top of the order. I should have clarity in my shots. I should know how to use my power play. You just have to chip over the fielders. That should be set in your mind. So, these were the things that really helped me," Kushagra explained.
While Solanki worked with him on sidelines, Kushagra spent most of his time at Titans shadowing former England captain Jos Buttler. An all-format player who opens in T20s, bats in middle-order in ODIs and is a modern day great, Kushagra did not hesitate going up to Buttler for inputs and the Englishman took him under the wings. "We speak a lot of cricket. He has the mental skills, technique and ability, having played all formats for England over the years. For me, it is a fascinating thing. If you are playing for your country in all three formats and doing it for such a long time, it's a very proud feeling. I think I can become that kind of a player. That's why I take a lot of input from Buttler. Because in all three formats... he bats in different places. So, how does he set that alignment of batting? How does he set it mentally? Those are the things we talk about all the time."
And earlier this month, Kushagra tried to apply it all when he made his debut for Titans in the absence of Shubman Gill. He scored a 14-ball 18, before making way for Gill in the next game, but one thing seems clear. The 21-year-old is here to stay and is doing everything in his power to make sure of it.