The all-rounder watched Yuvraj Singh train under his father and soon the former Indian star became a role model for a young boy
Raj Angad Bawa was just another lucky kid, who got excellent grades in school and loved to progress in Bhangra rhythm until he was 13 years old.
With Dharamsala hill-station hosting an international cricket match a day later, DAV Chandigarh cricket coach Sukhwinder Singh Bawa has decided to take his young son to watch the game.
Something changed for little Raj and as a father, for Sukhwinder it seemed that his son’s focus changed with simple “steps” making clever “footwork”. And the result was a very rewarding performance on a global scale, albeit on a small scale.
“He started playing (cricket) at the age of 11 or 12 before that he didn’t care. He loved listening to and dancing to Punjabi songs on television,” recalls Father Sukhwinder.
“He went with me to Dharamshala and saw a lot of hot games. After that he started sitting with me at club meetings and his cricket interest arose there.
The son was heartbroken in the top list of the ‘Young Lions’ and the father enjoyed all the attention that came his way.
The five wickets Raj won in the finals were not just for him but for Sukhwinder, who was living his dream for his son.
Sukhwinder was not even born when his father Tarlochan Singh Bawa played with Balbir Singh Senior, Leslie Claudius and Keshav Dutts to win the Indian Independent Olympic hockey gold in London during the 1948 Games.
The game was running in the family but the coach at Sukhwinder was delighted when Raj decided to put cricket ahead of the family.
“He was the best at his school. Even in ninth grade, he came second in school,” Sukhwinder said when asked if Raj was serious about his studies.
He then began to accompany his father to the Academy where he helped hone hundreds of players but one of them became a well-known name in international cricket – Yuvraj Singh.
As a child, Raj would see his favorite Yuvi Paaji train daily with his father and soon watching turned into an imitation as Raj had a new role model.
“My father coached Yuvraj Singh. I used to watch him when I was young. I used to imitate Yuvraj Singh when I was beating. as Yuvraj states.
Such was the influence of Yuvraj on the child Raj so much that a man using his natural right hand, could not imagine that he would not strike the left because his hero was a southpaw.
“When he was younger, Raj kept watching Yuvraj, who was able to fetch his nets from school and the children, the first hero is always there,” said the father.
“So, when Raj chose that belt he chose the left but everything else – throwing, throwing, etc. he was doing on the right hand side.
“I tried to correct him but when I turned around, he grabbed the bat again with his left hand. Then I stopped.” When he started hitting and reached the Punjab U-16 team, it was only after arriving in the junior provincial team that my father decided that Raj had the ability to throw the pace well.
“He was very good at throwing (at first) because I also used to be a fast bowler. But I wanted to balance. So, I stopped his swinging when he started.
“I was very focused on his batting, preparing him as a good batsman. I wanted him to do well in difficult situations. I did not want him to be a good bowler. “It was important to beat him. When he made the Punjab U-16 team, I gave him the ball. I had seen him as a child and I was confident he could throw better than anyone else,” said Sukhwinder.
“I love both hitting and throwing,” said a shy Raj at the launch event after the game when he received his medal.
However, Raj Angad Bawa’s journey has begun but hopes seem high and the road ahead is exciting.
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