India U19 cricketer Abhigyan Kundu will be in spotlight during the upcoming ICC U19 World Cup to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The 17-year-old cricketer from Navi Mumbai was in the news for smashing a record-breaking double century in the recently concluded U19 Asia Cup. The left-hander scored 209 runs off 125 balls against Malaysia, becoming the first Indian and only the second player worldwide to score a double century in Youth One-Dayers.
For Abhigyan and his family, the call-up to the Under-19 World Cup is nothing short of a dream come true. Representing India at a global stage is a moment of immense pride, not just for the young cricketer but for everyone who has been part of his journey.
According to his father, Abhishek Kundu, this milestone reflects years of sacrifice, discipline, and unwavering dedication. “He has trained for so many years with the dream of playing for the country. Getting the opportunity to play in a World Cup for India is truly special,” says Kundu (snr) to RevSportz
Abhigyan’s cricketing journey began at the tender age of five. With no cricketing background in the family, his talent first became evident when he played casually near their home. Recognising his natural ability, his parents enrolled him in professional coaching under Chetan Jadhav, whose academy was close to their residence in Vashi, Navi Mumbai.
From that young age, Abhigyan trained under the same coach. After closely observing him for a few years, Jadhav was convinced of the boy’s potential and advised the family to commit to full-time coaching. This marked a turning point. With the support of his schools, Abhigyan was granted attendance concessions, allowing him to focus heavily on cricket. His practice routine was intense—often facing nearly 5,000 balls a day—highlighting both his dedication and the effort put in by his coach.
Abhigyan began his schooling at St. Mary’s School in Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai, before moving to Anjuman Islam School.
According to Abhishek, “The shift was a strategic one, as Anjuman Islam actively participated in major Mumbai school tournaments such as the Harris Shield and Giles Shield. Both institutions played a supportive role in nurturing his cricketing ambitions.”
While Abhigyan was initially trained in all facets of the game, wicketkeeping gradually became his forte. Inspired largely by his coach, who is himself a skilled wicketkeeper, Aibhgyan shifted towards the role of wicketkeeper-batter and eventually made it his primary focus, even though he was capable with the ball as well.
“Like many young Indian cricketers, Abhigyan drew inspiration from legends of the game. MS Dhoni has been a major influence, along with Sourav Ganguly and Mumbai’s own Sachin Tendulkar. Although he never had a formal interaction with Tendulkar, a brief informal meeting during a coaching session in Navi Mumbai left a lasting impression,” says Abhishek.
Abhigyan’s knock versus Malaysia innings sparked widespread attention and praise across the country. For his family, it was an emotional and deeply satisfying moment. They had seen his potential earlier—he had already scored a double century in the Vijay Merchant Trophy (Under-16) and consistently delivered big performances for the state and on international tours—but doing it on the big stage made it extra special.
Abhigyan is following a strict training and fitness schedule laid out by the BCCI as he prepares for the U19 World Cup. His preparation now goes beyond physical skills, with strong emphasis on mental conditioning. With the guidance of his coach, team management, and support staff, he is focused, disciplined, and determined to make the most of this opportunity.
Abhigyan’s journey is a powerful reminder that talent, when matched with hard work, sacrifice, and the right support system, can turn dreams into reality.
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