Earlier this season, Anshul Kamboj made headlines by capturing 10 wickets in an innings in a Ranji Trophy game against Kerala, becoming only the third bowler after Bengal’s Premangsu Chatterjee (1956-57) and Rajasthan’s Pradeep Sundaram (1985-86) to achieve this feat in India’s premier first-class competition.
His reputation has grown since, both on and off the field. After a brief stint with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024, when he played three matches, the Haryana pacer was acquired by Chennai Super Kings for the upcoming season, in a significant deal worth Rs 3.40 crore. This has spurred Kamboj to further hone his skills. With 22 wickets in four Ranji matches at an average of 12.23, the bowler is now knocking on the doors of the senior Indian team, which is considered to be in transition.
Kamboj wreaked havoc at the BCA Academy in Kalyani near Kolkata, taking four wickets and helping bundle out Bengal for 85, their second-lowest total in Ranji Trophy. The Haryana slip cordon cheered him on, chanting “daalte jaa AK47, ayega ayega (keep bowling AK47, the wickets will come)”. The 24-year-old did not disappoint, leading Haryana to an outright win that knocked Bengal out of the tournament.
On his nickname, AK47, Kamboj humorously remarked to RevSportz, “It’s just a coincidence. It matches with my initials A-K followed by the number I picked. Sometimes my teammates call me that. Players usually choose numbers based on their birthdates, but I chose something different. There’s not much to read into it.”
Kamboj’s IPL journey began on an unforgettable note. He dismissed Travis Head, only for it to be called a no-ball. However, he bounced back by claiming his first IPL wicket, that of Mayank Agarwal. Despite the allure of the tournament’s glitz and glamour, Kamboj has focused on learning from the experience.
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Anshul Kamboj Interview: On Bumrah, Dhoni, England tour, IPL experience, Ranji Trophy and more!@AnshulKamboj_ @CricSubhayan @BCCIdomestic @Wowmomo4u #RanjiTrophy #ranjitrophy2025
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“After playing in the IPL, observing (Jasprit) Bumrah, I’ve learnt the value of being patient,” Kamboj reflected. “I am much more focused now. I’ve observed that top players continuously work on new skills, adding to their arsenal, and that’s what I aim to do with my bowling.”
Sharing the dressing room with Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya at Mumbai Indians was a profound learning experience. “Watching Bumrah or other top players in the dressing room, you notice how they prepare before a pressure situation. How they ready themselves before a big match, their processes, what they do in their preparations and what has made them such big players and why they succeed in big situations. This is seen during practice sessions and in many more things like their attitude during such situations. How focused they are, what they do, how they stand up in major occasions.”
Comparing his achievements, Kamboj says taking 10 wickets in an innings is a more significant milestone than his IPL selection. “Every player dreams of having such achievements through which they are remembered. It was a huge moment for me, my career, my family. All, including me, have worked hard to be where I am right now and this is just the start. I started receiving so many calls after that,” Kamboj laughed.
“Getting picked in IPL was of course a massive moment in my career, but taking 10 wickets was something which doesn’t happen every day. Ten wickets in an innings is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, something I will cherish forever.”
His performance in the ACC T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in October 2024, where he was named Player of the Match against Pakistan, prompted Chennai Super Kings to show interest in him. Now, set to play alongside MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Kamboj is eager to learn and elevate his game.
“Very excited to play with MS Dhoni. I will get to learn so many things. He has won many ICC and IPL trophies when he was the captain,” Kamboj said. “I just want to learn as much as possible from him and keep improving. I am sure playing with him will elevate my game to the next level. I just want to keep my head down and learn.”
With India undergoing a transition in Test cricket, Kamboj’s name is getting increasingly mentioned for higher honours, looking ahead to the series in England starting in June. “I can’t say anything about the England tour. I am focusing on just what I can do, which is to give my best whenever or wherever I play. I am trying to improve day by day. I am just sticking to my process and whether I get picked or not is not in my hands. Whatever will happen will happen.”
Kamboj’s idol is Glenn McGrath, whose consistent line he admires and emulates. “McGrath is my idol. I have watched a lot of his videos in my childhood. His bowling style is very similar to what I do, that is to keep hitting that one area consistently. I also try to stick to that particular line and length and trouble the batters as much as possible.”
His ultimate dream? “Everybody dreams of playing for India. Whenever I get the chance to represent my country, I will give my best. That’s what I can say. I just want to help India win as many matches as possible,” Kamboj said with a big smile.
Haryana, leading the Ranji Trophy table in Elite C group, face Karnataka in the last league game. Kamboj will be up against KL Rahul. He believes that playing against or alongside such figures pushes young players to elevate their game.
“When international stars play in the domestic circuit, it helps us to push ourselves more. When we share the dressing room with them or even play against them, we learn a lot. It is great for our domestic cricket. Whenever we go out there, everyone is equal on the field,” Kamboj said before sending a message for his fans, “Keep me in your prayers. I will keep giving my best and will not disappoint you all. Thank you.”
Also Read: Ranji Trophy: J&K stun Mumbai, Gill’s ton in vain and Bengal fizzle