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Praveen Kumar is a former Indian cricketer, known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and maintain a good line and length. Born in Meerut, he rose to prominence with his impressive performances in domestic cricket. Kumar's swing bowling made him a valuable asset for India. He gained recognition for swinging the ball even on flat pitches and played an instrumental role in India's triumphs in several international tournaments.
Praveen Kumar was born on October 2, 1986, in Laprana village of Shamli district. His parents are police head constable Sakat Singh Khaiwal and Murti Devi Khaiwal. As a child, Praveen developed an interest in cricket while playing with his friends. His father encouraged him to pursue the sport professionally.
Praveen made his debut for the Uttar Pradesh cricket team during the 2004-05 season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy where he finished as the joint highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
Praveen Kumar's consistent performances in domestic cricket earned him recognition from selectors who picked him for national duty against Pakistan in November 2007.
He rose to stardom during the tri-nation Commonwealth Bank Series held in 2008 against Australia and Sri Lanka where he played an integral role in helping India clinch victory.
In addition, Kumar achieved significant success as an opening bowler for India between 2008 to 2010, and in 2011, he made his Test debut against the West Indies. He established himself as one of India's most successful bowlers during the tours of England and West Indies where he took 27 wickets in six Test matches.
Praveen Kumar played for the Uttar Pradesh cricket team and was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways. He played a crucial role in India's triumphs during several international tournaments.
In addition to his domestic cricket performances, Kumar earned significant success as an opening bowler for India in ODIs from 2008 to 2010. His impressive bowling performance in the tri-nation series helped India clinch victory.
Kumar played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL initially before moving on to play for Kings XI Punjab from 2011 to 2013 and Mumbai Indians as a replacement for Zaheer Khan in IPL 2014. Later, he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2015 and Gujarat Lions from 2016-17.
On retirement, Praveen faced personal struggles with stress-related illnesses but has since undergone counselling to overcome his mental health problems.
Praveen Kumar has had a memorable career in international cricket, having played some crucial matches for the Indian cricket team in major tournaments. He was an integral part of India's winning squad in the Commonwealth Bank Series in 2008, where he put up an impressive performance with the ball.
Kumar's most significant contribution to Indian cricket came during the 2011 tour of England, where he played a vital role in India's lone Test victory in the series. In that match, he took five wickets and helped India secure a historic win at Lord's after 28 years. The same year, Kumar played a crucial part in India's World Cup-winning campaign by delivering some noteworthy performances with his precise swing bowling skills.
In addition to these tournaments, Praveen Kumar also participated in three ICC World Twenty20 editions for India (2009, 2010, and 2012), playing a pivotal role as a strike bowler who could control the run-rate and pick up wickets regularly.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) provided another platform for Kumar to showcase his skills on big stages against fierce rivals. He has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Lions throughout his IPL career. In the IPL 2010 season he even achieved a hat-trick against Rajasthan Royals while representing RCB.
Praveen Kumar was primarily known for being an exceptional swing bowler who could extract swing even on flat pitches. He had the ability to vary his pace well to deceive batsmen with late swing or seam movement off the pitch.
Kumar was not just a one-dimensional player; he could be relied upon with both bat and ball when the team needed him the most. He was a useful lower-order batsman, often showing his grit and determination to score runs in high-pressure situations. His ability to play crucial cameos with the bat made him an asset for any team he played for.
Kumar's tactical awareness was also impressive as he could read the game situation well and adapt his bowling accordingly. He had a knack for picking up early wickets, which put pressure on the opposition's middle order, making it difficult for them to build big totals.
His biggest strength has always been his ability to swing the ball both ways at will. This made him a challenging bowler to face, particularly in English conditions that are favourable to seam/swing bowling.
Praveen Kumar is known for his calm demeanour on and off the field. He is considered by many as an affable personality who never shies away from helping others.
Although not much is known about his interests outside of cricket, he has been quite active on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram where he shares glimpses of his personal life with fans regularly.
As far as controversies go, Kumar has had some significant issues off-field throughout his career. In 2008, he was accused of assaulting a doctor from Meerut, but later cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation by local authorities. In 2011 during India's tour of England, he initiated a verbal and physical attack on fans which led to disciplinary action taken against him by the BCCI.
Praveen Kumar - Legacy and Impact
Praveen Kumar's ability to swing the ball both ways on any pitch made him a valuable asset for India. He was widely recognized as one of the premier opening bowlers in the country, establishing himself as the leading striker for Uttar Pradesh with 199 wickets from 44 first-class matches. His performances helped India win several crucial games, including the Tri-Nation Commonwealth Bank Series in 2008 against Australia and Sri Lanka.
His ability to pick up early wickets in ODIs and Tests was unparalleled, and he became a vital cog in India's successful campaign in many tournaments. Kumar inspired many young cricketers to take up swing bowling as their main weapon, displaying how crucial technique and consistency are over pace.
Kumar was named Man of the Match twice during his Test career, including once during India's tour of England in 2011 where he took five wickets on debut. At domestic level, he received a number of prestigious awards such as 'Best Bowler' at the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament.
He was also nominated for several other awards during his career, including 'Emerging Player of the Year' at IPL 2009. Despite facing off-field controversies throughout his career, Kumar remained dedicated to performing well on-field which earned him recognition from fans worldwide.
Praveen Kumar's career was one of a kind. His ability to swing the ball even on flat pitches made him a valuable asset for India, and his performances helped India win many crucial games. He inspired future generations of medium-fast bowlers to master the art of swing bowling, setting a benchmark for cricketers who aspire to make it big in international cricket.
Kumar announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in October 2018. His legacy will continue to inspire young cricketers around the world to take up swing bowling as their main weapon.
FAQs
When did Praveen Kumar make his debut in ODI?
Praveen Kumar made his ODI debut in 2007.
What is Praveen Kumar's bowling style?
Praveen Kumar is a Right-arm medium bowler.
What was Praveen Kumar's highest score in Test cricket?
Praveen Kumar's highest score in Test cricket was 40 runs against England in August 2011.
Did Praveen Kumar captain any IPL team?
No, Praveen Kumar did not captain any IPL team during his career.
How many wickets did Praveen Kumar take in his ODI career?
Praveen Kumar took a total of 77 wickets in his ODI career spanning from 2007 to 2012.
