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Forgotten U-19 hero returns: Ravi Kumar’s 2025 stunning rise ahead of the IPL Auction

Kaushik Kashyap

Ravi Kumar. [Source - ICC/CAB]Ravi Kumar. [Source - ICC/CAB]

Ravi Kumar, the left-arm swing bowler who once lit up the 2022 U-19 World Cup, had all but vanished from cricket’s mainstream memory. Injuries, stalled opportunities, and the brutal pace of Indian domestic cricket pushed him back in the mix. But in 2025, the forgotten prodigy is roaring back, producing match-winning spells for Bengal in U-23 cricket and reminding everyone that he is well and truly back.

From injury replacement to U-19 World Cup star

Ravi Kumar’s journey to the India U-19 team in 2022 was not straightforward. When the junior squad played preparatory series in December 2021, he was not even part of the setup. But fate intervened, a late injury in the squad opened a door, and Ravi stormed through it. His impressive performance in the preparatory tri-series final earned him a spot in the India U-19 Asia Cup squad, and soon after, a ticket to the U-19 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Ravi Kumar dismissed Jacob Bethell in U19 World Cup Final 2022. [Source - ICC]Ravi Kumar dismissed Jacob Bethell in U19 World Cup Final 2022. [Source - ICC]

On the world stage, Ravi thrived. He played six matches, taking 10 wickets at an outstanding average of 13.20. His new-ball spell in the final remains etched in memory where he dismissed England’s Jacob Bethell and captain Tom Prest cheaply, running through the top order with swing that bent into right-handers like a magnet. Ravi finished with 4 for 34, including a wicket of set James Rew, setting the tone for India’s title win under Yash Dhull. 

Yet, after the triumph, Ravi’s career took an unexpected downturn. While many teammates entered the IPL and quickly moved into Ranji Trophy cricket, Ravi remained on the fringes. Bengal named him in their Ranji squad, but he never debuted. A Syed Mushtaq Ali appearance later in 2022 hinted at promise, but nothing more than that.

He also suffered a severe ankle injury in between which further derailed his progress. Tough time, doubts, and silence followed, but Ravi never stopped working. He rebuilt himself through Bengal’s first-division cricket, taking piles of wickets on flat surfaces in 2024 and 2025. He attended multiple BCCI U-23 camps, sharpening skills quietly while waiting for his moment.

The 2025 reawakening: Dominance in U-23 cricket

Ravi Kumar for Bengal. [Source - CAB]Ravi Kumar for Bengal. [Source - CAB]

That moment has finally arrived. Ravi, on the back of some amazing performances in the Bengal cricket circle, continued his great form in the CK Nayudu Trophy, India’s premier U-23 red-ball tournament where Ravi has taken 12 wickets in 3 matches at 16.08 so far, troubling batters with swing, seam consistency, and clever changes of length.

But it is the 50-over U-23 tournament (Men’s U23 State A Trophy) where the left-arm pacer has truly turned heads with 17 wickets at an average of 19.35, including a five-wicket haul in the semifinal against Tamil Nadu. Bengal may have lost that match, but Ravi was the standout performer.

Just a round earlier, he was the reason Bengal went through as he delivered a brilliant super over against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final, conceding only five runs and carrying Bengal into the semifinals. His death-over calmness, new-ball precision, and ability to move the ball both ways showcased a bowler with maturity far beyond the U-23 level.

With his inswinger attacking stumps, disciplined lines and length on flat decks, and a deceptive yorker-bouncer combination, Ravi Kumar offers a rare skill set, a left-arm swing pacer in a country with very few. The only concern remains pace, often hovering in the 130s, but with rhythm returning and improved confidence, that could rise too.

As the IPL auction approaches, the hype around him may still be low, but smart franchises know the value of a wicket-taking left-arm quick in both early and later stages of the game. Ravi Kumar has rebuilt his story from silence and struggle. Now, he is ready for the next chapter if given a chance.