Kumar LR: Overcoming Adversity to Shine in Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20

Kumar LR's impressive performance in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 has put him in contention for the Purple Cap. Despite personal tragedies and setbacks, the Hubli Tigers pacer has excelled through determination and hard work, aiming to honor his late mother's memory and secure his place in the Karnataka team.

Kumar LR is a leading contender for the Purple Cap at the ongoing Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20. He has been instrumental in leading the Hubli Tigers to the semifinals, but his journey has been marked by significant personal adversity. In 2022, tragedy struck when he lost both his parents within a few months; his mother to blood cancer and his father to a stroke. This left him and his two sisters to fend for themselves.

'It was a very difficult period for me. Suddenly, it was just me and my two sisters, and we had to look out for ourselves,' Kumar reflected. Despite the grief, the 23-year-old recalled his mother's pivotal role in enrolling him in formal cricket training at the PET Cricket Academy in Mandya during his childhood. 'She initially dissuaded me from playing cricket, but one day, she surprised me by enrolling me in cricket training, and I have not looked back since,' he added.

Kumar is now determined to honor his mother's memory by breaking into the Karnataka team across formats. 'I want to make her proud, and that really motivates me to keep going forward and get better,' he shared. Cricket has given him the financial stability to support his family and contribute to his mother's treatment. 'Fortunately, cricket has given me some financial strength, which I could use for my mother's treatment and to run my house,' Kumar said. With 14 wickets this season, including three three-wicket hauls, Kumar is in contention for the Purple Cap, trailing only his Hubli Tigers teammate, Manvanth Kumar, and Bengaluru's Lavish Kaushal.

In a standout moment, Kumar defended 11 runs in the final over against the Bengaluru Blasters, setting in motion a historic triple-super-over that earned Hubli Tigers two vital points. His rise in form has followed a lackluster stint with the Bengaluru Blasters last season. 'I told myself I must be able to win matches for the team. A lot of the negative comments on social media were about my lack of variations with the ball, I tried to take it in the right spirit and committed to working on my variations,' he said.

Often referred to as Brett Lee for his similar bowling action, Kumar faced a setback with a lower back injury last year. Determined to bounce back stronger, he has been working with former Karnataka and India pacer Abhimanyu Mithun to refine his action and reduce strain on his back. With Mithun, Kumar has also focused on enhancing his variations, drawing inspiration from his early days playing tennis ball cricket. 'I've spoken to many tennis ball cricketers who use a lot of variations in that format. They effectively use slower balls, wide yorkers, and knuckle balls. I'm still working on the knuckle ball with Abhimanyu Mithun, and it keeps getting better,' Kumar explained.

His efforts have earned him 10 wickets in the death overs this season, outshining his previous performances. Kumar also attributes his success to the positive team atmosphere. 'The energy has been very good at the camp. We were one of the first teams to start our camp, where we did a lot of match scenarios and spot bowling. That gave me a lot of confidence, and the team really encouraged me,' he noted.

As the Maharaja Trophy enters its knockout phase, Kumar LR hopes to continue his hard work and help the Hubli Tigers retain the title for another season.

(With inputs from agencies.)