New Delhi, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was Rajesh Mohanty’s childhood cricket idol and inspired his iconic No. 99 jersey, but the Bhubaneswar Tigers pacer eventually found his true calling in fast bowling.
The former India U19 speedster recently produced a disciplined spell for Bhubaneswar Tigers against Kataka Panthers in a rain-affected match in the ongoing Odisha T20 League.
Mohanty said the team had prepared specifically for a shortened game and executed its plans effectively.
“Before we left the hotel, our meeting was very clear that the match would be a short-overs game. So, whatever we had planned for the batters and whatever the bowlers had planned, we came fully prepared for that. We had decided that we would play all the overs with full intent,” he said in a statement issued by the tournament on Thursday.
Explaining his approach, Mohanty said senior players stepping up in crucial situations can also motivate younger teammates.
“As a senior player, if you come forward at such a time, the junior players also get some motivation. They also start playing well. My plan was that when their main batters came to bat, I would come to bowl. We played according to the plan and thankfully, we were successful,” he said.
Mohanty began playing cricket relatively late, in 2015, and was initially a top-order batter. His coach and mentor Deepak Mangaraj encouraged him to take up fast bowling after spotting his potential.
“I was a batter, but my coach saw something in me in fast bowling. He told me to focus on bowling, so I slowly started bowling more and stopped concentrating as much on batting. I started enjoying bowling and then felt that bowling could be my career,” Mohanty said.
He said his philosophy remains centred on focusing on the process rather than the outcome.
“The result is not in my hands. The process that is in my hands, whether it is training or bowling, I just focus on that. I have left the result to God,” he said.
Mohanty also recalled his connection with Ganguly, explaining that watching the former India captain influenced his early cricketing ambitions.
“I started cricket after watching Sourav Ganguly. He used to bowl medium pace and bat left-handed. I used to play as an opener and also bowl with the new ball,” he said.
Mohanty credited his stint at the MRF Pace Foundation with significantly improving his bowling and understanding of the game.
“When I went to MRF, I got to learn a lot. My bowling was perhaps 20-30 per cent good at that time, but after going there, I improved a lot,” he said.
“The coaching and the training helped me understand my bowling better. I got to learn more about how to bowl to good batsmen in domestic cricket. I got a lot of support from the people there,” he added.
Reflecting on his India U19 days, Mohanty said he remains in touch with former teammates including Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Nehal Wadhera, and takes pride in seeing them succeed in the IPL and domestic cricket.
“We used to play together and we won the Asia Cup. So, I feel very proud when I see them doing well,” he said.
He identified defending six or seven runs in an over during his India U19 stint as a defining moment in his career.
“I had to defend six or seven runs in one over. I gave away two runs. We won the match. I think that was a turning point in my career. So, being in India U19 is my favourite memory,” he said.
Mohanty also praised strength and conditioning coach Shakti Swarup Mohapatra for helping him maintain fitness and prepare to play across all three formats.
“He has a very good training programme for me. He wants me to stay fit and play all three formats. Without an S&C coach, I feel it is very difficult to play. I give him a lot of credit,” he said.
The pacer described state T20 leagues such as the Odisha T20 League as an important platform for emerging cricketers, pointing to the presence of scouts and the opportunity for players to attract attention for higher-level competitions.
“New talent is coming from all over India and people are watching these matches. Scouts are also coming, so it is a good platform for new stars to emerge. Those who do well here can get an opportunity to play in the IPL,” he said.
FOLLOW NOW
