140 kmph, Rs 21.5 lakh and a dream: Shubham Gautam's rise from Narora
Shubham Gautam, a fast bowler from the small town of Narora, has emerged as a professional cricket prospect after being signed for Rs 21.5 lakh in the UPT20 League. His journey from a local academy to professional play highlights the challenges of breaking into the sport from rural India.
Why it matters
Gautam's story illustrates the growing reach of professional cricket leagues in India and the potential for talent discovery in underdeveloped regions.
NEW DELHI: Shubham Gautam hails from Narora, a town located on the banks of the Ganga River in the Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. Narora is famous for its nuclear power plant, operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).In the NPCIL campus, Ankit Kumar Rajput runs a cricket academy, where he first spotted Shubham Gautam, a fast bowler who earlier this year won the speed hunt organised by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) and went on to become one of the most expensive players in the UPT20 League when Noida Kings roped him in for Rs 21.50 lakh."He has always had this good athletic body.
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