Kuldeep Sen is on the road to redemption, having overcome multiple injury setbacks. The fast bowler, who has been out of action for long spells due to a back and knee injury, is now back in competitive cricket.
He recently returned to first-class cricket with Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy and is set to represent Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. Despite the struggles, he remains focused on moving forward, match by match.
Reflecting on his injury struggles, Sen shared the words of encouragement he received from India coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma. "They told me I have a lot of potential and that I would soon regain fitness and play for India again," he recalled.
Sen’s journey has been far from easy. After an impressive debut season with Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022, where he defended 14 runs in a final over against Lucknow Super Giants and picked up four crucial wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he seemed destined for bigger things. However, a back injury in December 2022 halted his progress. He made a brief comeback in January 2024 but suffered a knee injury during IPL 2024, forcing him to miss most of the domestic season.
Speaking about his struggles, Sen acknowledged the challenges fast bowlers face. "Injuries come without warning, but I’ve worked hard to minimize them. Even while recovering, my focus was on making a strong comeback," he said.
Hailing from Rewa, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, Sen’s journey to professional cricket was filled with hardships. Coming from a modest background, he initially played with borrowed gear, as his family could not afford cricket equipment.
His coach, Aril Antony, played a crucial role in shaping his career, providing him with shoes and training without charging fees. His father, who runs a hair salon, was initially hesitant about his cricketing ambitions but later became a strong supporter once he started playing first-class cricket.
Sen’s persistence paid off when he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals in the 2022 IPL auction after going unsold multiple times. He credits Kumar Sangakkara’s guidance for boosting his confidence. Now, after another injury break, he will don the Punjab Kings jersey in IPL 2025, the very franchise that first gave him a trial in 2018.
Determined to secure his place in competitive cricket, Sen has also worked on increasing his bowling speed, consistently touching 140kph. He believes this improvement, along with technical adjustments to his bowling action, will help him avoid injuries.
While he remains passionate about red-ball cricket, he understands the unique challenges of T20 cricket. "In Test cricket, you have time to think and execute your strategy, but in T20s, you need to adapt instantly," he explained.
Now injury-free, Sen isn’t looking too far ahead. His goal is simple focus on the present, perform well, and let opportunities unfold naturally. "If I perform, doors will open on their own. Thinking too much only adds pressure. My priority is to win matches for my team," he concluded.
Updated on 30th January, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.