Milind Kumar’s Big Leap: Picked by RCB, The Ranji Star Reflects on His Journey and Mentors
From Domestic Dominance to IPL Dreams: Milind Kumar Opens Up About His RCB Selection and the Guiding Forces Behind His Success
New Delhi: After a phenomenal run in domestic cricket, 27-year-old Milind Kumar has earned a well-deserved place in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)* squad for the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The Delhi-born all-rounder, known for his grit and discipline, was picked at his base price of ₹20 lakh during the IPL auction held on December 18, 2018.
Milind’s selection follows a historic run in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy, where he represented Sikkim. In his debut match for the team, he smashed an extraordinary 261 runs against Manipur, leading Sikkim to an innings victory. That performance was just the beginning of a record-breaking season. By the end of the league stage, he had amassed 1,331 runs in 8 matches, including six centuries and four half-centuries, becoming the highest run-scorer of the tournament.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Milind said with quiet resolve. “But I do know that every run I scored and every hour I spent training was for a moment like this—to be ready when the opportunity came.”
While the spotlight now shines brightly on him, Milind remains grounded in gratitude. He credits his journey to the strong foundation laid by his mentors.
“I am deeply thankful to my coaches—Tarak Sinha sir, Devendra Sharma sir, and Coach Imran Khan—who have each shaped different aspects of my game and character,” he says. “Tarak sir gave me discipline and the fundamentals, Devendra sir sharpened my mindset and mental strength, and Coach Imran Khan worked on my technique and match awareness. Their belief in me has been my greatest strength.”
Though an IPL debut awaits, Milind sees this milestone as just the start.
“Getting picked by RCB is a huge honour, but it’s not the finish line. This is Day 1 of a new climb,” he added.
As the 2019 IPL season approaches, Milind Kumar stands as a symbol of perseverance, performance, and the power of mentorship. With the RCB jersey now part of his journey, a promising new chapter begins.
