Angkrish Raghuvanshi returns to the Mumbai squad on the back of scores of 201 and 203 at the under-23 level, having recovered from the finger injury that required surgery during the Indian Premier League.
The wicketkeeper-batter missed Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy opener with Yashasvi Jaiswal available. But as he prepares for the clash against Himachal Pradesh, beginning on Sunday, Raghuvanshi will look to build on his recent run-scoring and make the most of his return.
Raghuvanshi had a productive IPL season with Kolkata Knight Riders, scoring 422 runs in 13 matches to finish as the franchise’s highest run-getter. His five half-centuries in 12 innings marked the second successive season in which he crossed 300 runs for KKR.
The injury forced him away from the game, but he found ways to stay connected to cricket during his recovery. His coach, Abhishek Nayar, helped him continue working on his skills despite the limitations.
“My happy place is when I’m out there on the ground playing or when I’m in the nets batting. Even when I was injured, I was thinking about when I was going to be back. What are the things I can improve on? What are the things I can do? Those things are driving me,” he told Sportstar.
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Raghuvanshi did not want the time away from the game to become a period of inactivity. “More importantly, I wasn’t spending my days doing nothing. My coach, as everyone knows, is Abhishek sir. He was very motivating throughout. He kept giving me ideas as to what I could improve while my hand was injured. I could still run, I could still focus on visualising my cricket, and that’s how I got through it,” he said.
The work continued through one-handed batting and catching drills.
“I was catching balls with one hand; I was batting with one hand. So that part never stopped, and so I think that got me through the injury,” he said with a smile.
The break also gave him time with his family. “When you do play cricket, you forget how much of life goes on the road, away from family. When I was injured, that was one part that I could experience again,” he said.
“I spent a lot of time with my mum, with my dad, and with my younger brother. My right hand was okay, so I was playing a lot of paddle tennis, just spending time and having conversations with them,” he added.
Returning to the crease brought a sense of perspective. Rather than worry about lost time or look too far ahead, Raghuvanshi was happy simply to be batting again.
“I wasn’t thinking too much about the future. I think the injury gave me a bit of clarity. I was just happy to be there, batting. I thought, just try to enjoy the moment as well as I can. If I am out there batting, I try to give the best I can. I wasn’t thinking too much. I was just grateful to be part of being a cricketer again,” he said.
Despite making his first-class debut two years ago, opportunities in the Ranji Trophy have been limited, with just four outings. But he is not losing hope. “This is the dream for a lot of people: playing in the Ranji Trophy. And for me as well, it’s been tough for me,” he said.
Now back in the Mumbai squad, Raghuvanshi is keeping his focus on the present. “I don’t think too much about the future now. It’s just how I can do my best for the team and my best for myself and enjoy the moment. Whatever comes your way, make the most of it.”
Published on Oct 17, 2026
