Rajandeep Singh: The School Bus Driver’s Son Who Challenged India’s Top Batters in Practice

Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and 15‑year‑old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rotated through the nets at JSCA Stadium in Ranchi on the eve of India’s second T20I versus the West Indies. Among the bowlers they faced was a 24‑year‑old Jharkhand all‑rounder largely unknown to fans.

What Happened in the Nets in Ranchi

During practice, India’s top batsmen were launching balls into the stands. From afar, Rajandeep Singh resembled Arshdeep Singh, but a closer inspection revealed another promising Jharkhand fast‑bowler. He delivered with confidence and discipline, frequently beating the bat, prompting edges and miscues, and earned compliments from the batters. He is not currently in the India squad.

VIDEO | Ranchi, Jharkhand: From a school‑bus driver’s son to India’s nets, Rajandeep aspires to follow in the footsteps of Dhoni and Ishan. While India’s star‑studded top lane was launching balls into the stands at JSCA Stadium on Thursday, another Jharkhand cricketer made the most of his net session on the eve of the second T20I. At a glance, the 24‑year‑old Rajandeep Singh resembled Arshdeep Singh, but a closer look revealed another promising Jharkhand fast‑bowler. Alongside Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and 15‑year‑old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, he bowled with confidence and discipline, frequently beating the bat, prompting edges and miscues, and drew praise from the batters. For a youngster from Jharkhand who had once considered quitting cricket due to financial constraints, sharing the nets with India’s leading T20 batters was a cherished experience. “I got a chance to bowl to the senior players, saw what I need to improve, and realized I shouldn’t bowl too loosely. It felt good to bowl today,” he said. (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)

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For Rajandeep, the session was as much about learning as it was about making an impression. “I had the opportunity to bowl to the senior players, identified areas for improvement, and understood the key aspects I need to work on,” he told PTI. He added, “I also learned that I cannot afford to bowl too loosely; it felt rewarding to bowl today.” The feedback boosted his confidence: “The batsmen commented that I was bowling well, and Sanju sir echoed that sentiment.”

A Jharkhand Cricketer With Jalandhar Roots

Rajandeep is the son of Kulwant Singh, who drives a school bus, and Surinder Kaur. He left school after Class 12 to devote himself fully to cricket, and his family’s finances almost forced him to quit. In 2016 he was on the verge of abandoning the sport, but he told his parents to give him one year, earned a spot on the Jharkhand U‑16 team, and has been a regular ever since.

Following his grandmother’s passing, the family returned to their hometown of Jalandhar, where his father continues to drive a school bus. Rajandeep opted to remain in Jharkhand to pursue his cricketing ambitions. “My family fully supports me and wants me to succeed. We endured tough times, but everything has settled. My father still drives a school bus in Jalandhar, and life has returned to normal. My complete focus is now on cricket.”

The Numbers That Put Him on the Radar

Rajandeep was a member of Jharkhand’s inaugural Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy‑winning squad, captained by Ishan Kishan.

• Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: 5 wickets in 8 matches, plus 200 runs in 7 innings (average 40, strike rate >186)
• Final‑stage spell: 1/30 from four overs versus Punjab, in a match Jharkhand won by six wickets after chasing 235 in 19 overs
• Jharkhand Premier League: 8 wickets in 8 matches, economy rate 9.24
• CK Nayudu Trophy: an unbeaten 400 off 387 balls against Meghalaya

That unbeaten innings is what has drawn the attention of IPL scouts, with two or three franchises reportedly inviting him for trials. He remains cautious about his expectations, saying, “I’m not focusing on it at the moment. It’s nice to be part of a team, but my priority is the upcoming season, the trials and the matches. The domestic campaign is about to begin, and I’m prepared for whatever comes.”

The Ishan Kishan Influence

Rajandeep credits Kishan, his captain during the title‑winning run, with addressing an aspect that no coaching manual could fix. “In age‑group cricket it’s mainly about skill, but at the senior level mental toughness matters. Ishan bhaiya gave me clarity and urged me to enjoy my game. I had been lacking that clarity earlier, but I have regained it.”

Kishan also steered him toward a defined role. “He told me that to be an all‑rounder I must excel in both batting and bowling. He emphasized that balance, and I performed well in the CK Nayudu Trophy as a result.”

An Idol Who Bats Where He Does

His cricketing idols are Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, with Dhoni being his primary inspiration. “My idol is MS Dhoni; my batting position mirrors his, so I learn a great deal from him. On the field I continue to absorb lessons from him as well.” The Ranchi link is unmistakable — his net session took place at Dhoni’s home ground.

Where He Goes From Here

His aim is clear. “I’ve been advised to focus on the white‑ball side, so I’m preparing accordingly. I want to excel with my bowling, build on what I’ve learned, and keep improving.” The upcoming steps are the domestic season and the IPL trials; the Ranchi net session provided a valuable benchmark against the batters he is likely to face again.

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