Saumy Pandey’s Journey – Cement Pitch Grind to Leading Charts at Under-19 WC

From practicing for hours on cement pitch in Bharatpur to weaving magic on South Africa soil, here's Saumy's story.

Saumy Pandey is the leading wicket-taker at the ongoing U-19 World Cup in South Africa.

Image: ICC/Altered by The Quint

“Jab do-dhai saal ka tha tab hi bat ball mangta tha. Usi ko leke sota tha. Uska bat pakadne ka tareeka cricketer jaisa tha tab bhi (When he was 2-2.5 years old, he wanted a bat and a ball. He would sleep with the bat and even at that age he used to hold the bat like a cricketer),” Krishna Kumar Pandey, a Government school teacher and proud father recalls as he narrates the story of his son, Saumy Pandey’s love for cricket.

Fast forward to 2024, at 19, Saumy, now the vice-captain of the Indian team is spinning his way to glory in the ICC Men’s U-19 World Cup in South Africa – the left-arm spinner stands tall as the joint leading wicket-taker of the tournament, alongside Pakistan’s Ubaid Shah, with an impressive tally of 12 scalps from 4 games. Remarkably, the Indian spinner boasts the tournament's finest bowling economy and average

Saumy is currently the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 12 scalps to his name. 

Image: Special Arrangement

India's Bowling Star at the U-19 WC

Saumy kicked off his World Cup journey with a dream start, securing a stellar 4/19 against Bangladesh in India's opener, limiting the Tigers to a mere 84 runs. His brilliance continued as he dismissed the Irish opener, concluding with figures of 3/21 against Ireland, and adding another wicket against the USA.

Maintaining his remarkable momentum, Saumy delivered yet another impressive performance, securing 4 wickets for 19 runs against New Zealand. This outstanding display by the young spinner played a pivotal role in India's resounding victory, defeating New Zealand by a massive margin of 214 runs.

Saumy faces unwarranted comparisons with India's spin maestro Ravindra Jadeja because of his ability to pick wickets whilst maintaining brilliant economy, a sentiment his coach deems unfair. Expressing his disagreement, his coach, Aril Anthony says, “I don’t agree with people comparing him to Jadeja. He’s playing U-19 right now…he has a long journey ahead of him. How he does in the upcoming competitions is still to be seen. He will eventually do more. I feel it’s wrong to compare him with someone of Jadeja’s calibre.”

Childhood Dreams vs. Prophecy

As the young bowler from MP dazzles on the grand cricketing stage, it's a path destiny might not have originally scripted. Recalling a childhood incident, his father recounts a visit to a religious leader in Haridwar, where a prophecy foresaw a future as a doctor or engineer, left young Saumy in tears. Unfazed by predictions, he boldly declared that he wants to be a cricketer.

“We once went to Haridwar to our Guruji when Saumy was around 3.5 years old, he touched Guruji’s feet to seek his blessings. Guruji then told us that this kid would become either a doctor or an engineer. Saumy started crying and said I want to become a cricketer.”

Saumy started playing cricket when he was just 5 years old.

Image: Special Arrangement

From Bharatpur to Rewa

From Bharatpur to Rewa, Saumy's pursuit of better education encountered challenges in a modest two-room rented space. Undeterred, his father, determined to foster Saumy's sports passion, introduced him to the cricket ground, where fate met MPCA Coach Aril Anthony.

“Our village didn’t have enough facilities so we took him to Rewa for his studies. He used to live in a rented two-room set so he didn’t have enough space for physical activities. It was then we decided to take him to the ground where many kids of his age would come and play,” his father would tell The Quint.

Aril Anthony saw potential in Saumy and, within months, offered to train him formally. “When his father brought him to me, he was very young but he was a very sincere student,” his coach would say.

The initial goal was simply to keep Saumy physically active, but his commitment and love for the game became apparent when he would insist on playing extra hours after his training sessions.

Saumy Pandey with his coach Aril Anthony.

Image: Special Arrangement

“Saumy was around 5 years old when we met Aril sir. We only wanted him to be physically active at first, with no plans to start training him. Almost 5-6 months later when I met Aril sir, he told me that he could train under him. When I would go to the ground to pick him up after 2-3 hours of training, Saumy would insist on playing extra,” KK Pandey recalled.

While Saumy's father had always been his pillar of support, it was his son's remarkable performance in zonal cricket that truly opened his eyes to the magnitude of Saumy's potential in the sport.

“He was playing in the U-16 team of the central zone and he performed really well. He took 36 wickets. I always wanted him to focus on studies too but It was then that I realised he can do something in this field. Saumy, though, was never hesitant. I'm worrying too much, he would tell his mother. He always had a sense that everything would turn out well,” he would reveal.

Saumy's father tells The Quint that he always had faith in himself and believed that everything would turn out well.

Image: Special Arrangement

Turning Point During Lockdown

As the world grappled with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Saumy's family made a pivotal decision of returning to their hometown, Bharatpur, where his father constructed a cement pitch for him for practice.

“During the lockdown, when everything was shut and Saumy was really disappointed for his practice. We came to our hometown where we have a vast land. I built him a cement pitch there so he could practice even in the rainy season.Saumy ordered nets and other stuff online and set up everything. He would bowl there for hours everyday. I feel that was the turning point of his life. It was during that period only when he learnt English speaking.”

During the lockdwon, the spinner honed his bowling skills by practicing on cement pitch in his hometown.

Image: Special Arrangement

Amid the lockdown, Saumy also realised the significance of English proficiency in the cricketing world. Motivated by his father, he took on the challenge of honing his speaking skills. 

“I told Saumy that if he wants to play cricket he has to be fluent in English. I used to give him tasks and if he’d do them, only then he would be permitted to play. He would only communicate in English for those five or six months in order to play,” his father would say.

Coach’s Advice

As Saumy makes waves in South Africa, Coach Aril Anthony praises his mentee's sharp mind and versatility. “His mind is very sharp. When he would practice, he would bowl wide of the crease, round the wicket, and he would know how to use the pitch. He’s a very sincere student, not just in cricket but in his studies too. He’s a child who balances both his studies and cricket equally well,” commends the coach.

In a recent conversation, Coach Aril advises Saumy to focus on consistency and avoid unnecessary experimentation. “I told him not to worry much and just focus on what you have been doing. Don’t try to experiment," he shares.