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What cricketer Kumar Kushagra’s father learnt from historian Romila Thapar and how it shaped his son

Shashikant, Kumar’s father, was a student of JNU, and historian Romila Thapar’s emphasis on thorough research left a lasting impression on him

By Venkata Krishna B · The Indian Express

Published: Friday, 16 October 2026 at 6:03 PM

Key Things to Know

Kumar Kushagra's father used research principles learned from historian Romila Thapar to coach his son into elite cricket.
Kushagra received his maiden India call-up for the final two ODIs on the tour of New Zealand.
Shashikant coached his son personally using cricket books and manuals instead of enrolling him in an academy.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Kumar Kushagra's father, Shashikant, applied academic research methods learned from historian Romila Thapar at JNU to personally coach his son into an international cricketer. Despite having no cricket background, Shashikant studied books and analyzed techniques himself rather than sending his son to an academy, ultimately helping Kushagra earn his maiden India ODI call-up for the tour of New Zealand.

Shashikant taught Kushagra batting mechanics and introduced him to wicketkeeping against fast bowlers to overcome fear. Kushagra steadily progressed through Jharkhand age-group cricket, eventually securing IPL contracts with Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans.

Read the full article on The Indian Express

What cricketer Kumar Kushagra’s father learnt from historian Romila Thapar and how it shaped his son

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