Arjun Rajput is enjoying a phase that every young cricketer dreams of. But while his recent performances are putting him in the spotlight, the story behind his rise is one of perseverance, family support and sacrifices made long before the runs and wickets started coming.
Playing for Ludhiana Lions in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026, Rajput produced a memorable all-round performance against Bathinda Royals at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali. He first picked up 4/27 in four overs before smashing a match-winning 82 off 45 balls, helping Ludhiana chase down 166 with three wickets to spare.
The performance comes at an important stage of his career. Rajput has now been selected in the India U-19 squad for the upcoming one-day series against Australia U-19, having previously been part of the India U-19 side that faced Sri Lanka. It is another opportunity for the young cricketer to test himself at international level.
For Rajput, however, the journey started much closer to home.
His love for cricket came from his elder brother, who played the sport. Watching him gradually turned into a dream of his own.
“My elder brother used to play cricket. Looking at him, I decided that I want to play cricket,” Rajput told RevSportz in an exclusive interview.
Pursuing that dream meant understanding early that cricket demanded more than just ability. Fitness, discipline and lifestyle choices became part of his everyday routine.
“You have to work hard. You have to be fit. You have to be disciplined. You have to give up a lot of things,” he said. “You can’t do parties if you want to maintain a good level.”
There were also challenges beyond the choices he made as a young athlete. The academy where Rajput trained eventually shut down, leaving him and other youngsters without the facilities they had relied on.
“It was the main hub of Jalandhar. All the players started coming there. There were good facilities,” he recalled.
The closure made training difficult. “It was heartbreaking. We struggled a little. We didn’t get good practice. We couldn’t practise well,” he said. But instead of allowing that setback to end his progress, Rajput and his family found a way forward.
“But somehow we managed and made it.”
A major part of that support came from his father, Hoti Ram, who worked hard to keep the family going. Until around a year ago, he ran a chhole-kulche cart. He now operates a bakery, preparing and delivering kulchas.
There were financial difficulties, but Rajput says his father never allowed him to feel that he was missing out.
“My father never let me feel that I needed anything. He always provided everything on time.”
His India U-19 journey has already included a memorable outing against Sri Lanka, where he scored 76.
Now, Australia presents another opportunity.
His stint in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League has allowed him to play alongside experienced cricketers and learn from them. Rajput says sharing a dressing room with senior players like Salil Arora and Arshdeep Singh has been an important part of his development.
“To be honest, you will get to learn a lot by sharing the dressing room with such big names. I feel very proud.”
He has also benefited from conversations with Abhishek Sharma, having previously been part of his Green Knights team.
“He shares a lot of small technical things in cricket,” Rajput said.
The league has also helped him stay in touch with white-ball cricket ahead of the Australia assignment. “The experience I will get from here will be useful there as well,” he said.
There are bigger dreams beyond the immediate challenge. Rajput would like to share a dressing room with MS Dhoni, while he named Ricky Ponting as a player he would like to play against. The IPL, too, remains an ambition.
“If I get the opportunity, I will definitely play,” he said.
But when asked where he wants to be in the next decade, Rajput’s answer was simple: “Represent my country on a senior level.”
For now, Australia is the next challenge. The 82 and four wickets have shown his current form; the India U-19 selection offers another stage. For him, it is another opportunity to prove himself.
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