IPL 2022: 'No lunch for a year, worked as labourer': Here's how Kartikeya landed in Mumbai Indians' squad

No lunch for a year!
Worked as labourer!
Had no place to sleep!

But did that deter the 15-year-old Kumar Kartikeya?

The answer is loud and clear, NO!

Kartikeya who removed Rajasthan Royals' skipper Sanju Samson in his first-ever IPL over had no bed of roses while chasing his dream. When children enjoy with friends at school, on playgrounds, and live a leisure life at home, Kartikeya knew what he wanted in life.

He left his home at the age of 15. The then kid, who is now playing for one of the most successful IPL teams had promised his family that he won't let his cricket add to the financial burden of his father, who is a constable.

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Kartikeya's coach Sanjay Bharadwaj spoke about the little boy's determination to make it to the cricketing world.

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Bharadwaj was the first to extend the hand of help to the kid. When for the first time, he offered accommodation, his cook offered Kartikeya 'lunch'.

In Bharadwaj's words, 'Kartikeya began to cry, he hadn't eaten lunch for an year'.

The 24-year-old 'left-arm everything', as the commentators addressed him after watching him play for the first time in IPL, was just a regular left-arm spinner who worked as a labour at night to support himself and practiced during the day.

In the past 9 years, Kartikeya, who represents Madhya Pradesh in the domestic circuit, has made himself indispensable and has learned various arts of left-arm spin himself. And finally earned a place in Mumbai Indians' squad.