Now Reading: UPT20 League: 21-year-old Shubham Gautam bowls 143-plus kmph, aims bigger
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UPT20 League: 21-year-old Shubham Gautam bowls 143-plus kmph, aims bigger
Twenty-one-year-old Shubham Gautam, bowling consistently above 140 kmph, has emerged as a fast-bowling prospect in the UPT20 League for Noida Kings. In his second match, he took 3/22 against Lucknow Falcons, with…
Twenty-one-year-old Shubham Gautam, bowling consistently above 140 kmph, has emerged as a fast-bowling prospect in the UPT20 League for Noida Kings. In his second match, he took 3/22 against Lucknow Falcons, with one delivery clocked at 143.4 kmph. He models his game on Jofra Archer's speed and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's swing control.
Gautam, from village Dibi near Bulandshahr, was bought for Rs 21.5 lakh at the league auction after being identified in a UP Cricket Association speed-bowling camp. He aims to earn selection for UP's Under-23 side, which will play T20s for the first time this season. His early figures show discipline: 0/17 in his first match and a strike rate that underlines his ability to take wickets while keeping runs tight.
He credits fitness work for sustaining pace and avoiding injuries that often derail young quicks. Gautam had previously failed to break into UP under-19 teams despite attending camps, but believes the UPT20 League is his breakthrough platform. His immediate target is the UP Under-23 side.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Shubham Gautam's journey from a Bulandshahr village to the UPT20 League reflects a broader shift in Indian domestic cricket: the hunt for genuine pace. The UPCA's speed-bowling camp in Noida, where he was scouted, is part of a systematic effort by state associations to unearth fast bowlers who can sustain 140-plus km/h, a rarity in Indian conditions. Gautam's 21.5-lakh auction price, modest by IPL standards, signals that franchise scouts see value in raw speed even before consistent domestic runs. His immediate target is the UP Under-23 side, which for the first time this season will play T20s, offering a shorter route to higher honours. The key question is whether he can avoid the injury trap that has derailed many young Indian quicks, his stated focus on fitness and recovery suggests awareness, but delivery will matter.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
