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World Cup U-19: Chandigarh lad Raj Angad Bawa dedicates innings to father-cum-coach
Deepankar Sharda
Chandigarh, January 24
Chandigarh's Raj Angad Bawa dedicated his record-breaking unbeaten inning of 164 runs, highest by an Indian player in World Cup U-19, to his father and coach Sukhwinder Singh Bawa.
I dedicate this innings to my father. All these years, he has been guiding me. He steered me to where I am right now and it's all because of him. — Raj Angad Bawa
Bawa hogged the limelight after scoring 164 runs off 108 balls, with 14 boundaries and eight sixes, against Uganda in the ongoing U-19 World Cup, at Trinidad. He surpassed Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan's record for the highest score by an Indian in the U-19 World Cup.
"I dedicate this innings to my father. All these years, he has been guiding me. He steered me to where I am right now and it's all because of him," said Raj, while talking to The Tribune from the World Cup venue.
This is not for the first time that Raj proved his mettle in this tournament. Besides shining with his bat, the 19-year-old lad has given equally balanced performance in bowling too. The all-rounder - left-handed batter and right arm medium pacer - is keen on taking the Indian side to the World Cup win. Though Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions are slated for next month, Raj is in no hurry to make a debut in the tournament.
"Right now I am not thinking about the IPL. Opportunities will come at the right time and I will be prepared for it," he said.
Asked about Covid scare within the team as reports hinted that five players were found infected, Raj said the entire squad was taking precautions. "We are taking all precautions by staying in our room and avoiding contact with people," he said.
Raj comes from a rich sports family background. He is the son of a renowned cricket coach Sukhwinder Bawa and grandson of hockey Olympian Tarlochan Bawa, who was a member of the team that won gold in London in 1948.
Sukhwinder had coached the likes of Yuvraj Singh and many other cricketers of the region. Sukhwinder would spend hours and hours of hard work on Raj do see his ward wearing Indian jersey.
"My father knew about my cricket's gives and takes. I started with off-spin, but he asked me to focus on my batting. Gradually, I developed my interest and it helped me in improvising in bowling too," Raj had said in one of his previous interviews.