The rise and rise of Nathu Singh

Three years later, the gamble has paid off. Nathu Singh’s rise has been spectacular. Within months of joining a cricket academy run by former Rajasthan Ranji player Hemendra Surana, he was picked up for the under-19 team in 2013.

He was then selected for the MRF Pace Foundation where he impressed Australian legend McGrath, who described him as the future of India’s fast bowling.

Last year, Singh was not just picked for the Ranji team but also in the playing XI. He took seven wickets in his debut against Delhi, which impressed Gautam Gambhir who saw India material in him.

Soon, word spread and chief selector Sandeep Patil too went to watch him play.

Singh was chosen for the Board President’s XI for a warm-up match against South Africa within a month of his first-class debut.

With just six first-class matches under his belt, Singh has not just become a millionaire but, more importantly, he has got the chance to play in the IPL, which has become a launching pad for budding cricketers to get into Team India.

What remains to be seen is whether Singh’s career will shine or fade away like Ashok Menaria and Deepak Chaher, who failed to maintain consistency after stunning debuts five years ago, or will he become the fourth from Rajasthan to play for India after Parthsarathy Sharma, Gagan Khoda and Pankaj Singh.