“I moved to the USA for education initially, and then had a flash bulb moment where I was like ‘why not give cricket another shot instead of the same old life?’ I think it all stemmed from there.” This is the story of Rushil Ugarkar – Mumbai Indians New York’s 21-year-old sensation in the Major League Cricket (MLC). Currently studying an online undergraduate degree in Arizona State University after relocating from India, Ugarkar’s journey to success in cricket began with failure.
“When I moved to Dallas, I thought I’ll try my hand at breaking into the U-19s here. I wanted to give it a shot and attempt to land a spot even at 16 or 17. So I spoke to my parents, we evaluated the possibilities, and then I took the leap of faith. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into the U-19 setup, and didn’t really manage to make a mark there. But through the experience, I cracked open another door which was the Minor League Cricket system. From there, things took off for me.”
Humble Beginnings:
Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 2003, Ugarkar’s journey is far from conventional. He moved to the United Kingdom at the age of three, before committing to his cricketing love story in the city of Bangalore, India. He began training at a local training centre called IACA – which self-admittedly didn’t contribute much to his growth – before making the big switch to the Karnataka Institute of Cricket. KIOC continues to be one of the premier coaching centres of the state – having produced champion international cricketers such as Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Mayank Agarwal and Devdutt Padikkal.
A gun fast bowler who cranks it up to 135+ km/h, the realisation beckoned on Ugarkar very early on. “I unofficially started playing cricket at the age of four in the UK. My dad and I would use either snow balls or plastic balls and a baseball bat to play, and assume we were playing cricket. But somehow, I always enjoyed throwing the ball rather than hitting it. At the age of six, we moved to Bangalore and by then, I knew that it was something I wanted to potentially take up professionally.”
Motivation & Inspiration:
Ugarkar emphasises on finding motivating factors and something or someone to be inspired by, as the key factor that keeps him going. Developing at a time when batsmen were still the “cool trendy guys” in Indian cricket, the tall fast bowler found inspiration from the Land Down Under.
“For some reason, Shane Watson was the guy I idolised from the day I started training seriously at KIOC. I think it was more to do with the fact that he was always involved in the game – making big runs with the bat, picking up key wickets, manning the important pockets in the field – the guy was such a natural. When he chose to retire, I had new found inspiration in Pat Cummins. Just a rugged pacer who dug the ball into the wicket, and gradually evolved into a leader who sort of headlines the cricket world today. I want that for myself.”
From Playing for His State to Playing in the States:
After representing several division-level sides in Karnataka, educational dreams paired with the desire to return to his birth nation resulted in a flight back to Dallas, Texas, for Ugarkar and co. He shone bright during his MiLC stints with the Dallas Mustangs and East Bay Blazers – picking up 41 wickets in 31 matches in this period. Ugarkar believes that the difference in quality between the highest level in the United States of America and some of the test playing nations isn’t as high as made to sound.
The fact that the USA is drawing in some of the best players in the world, and simultaneously getting world class facilities to back it up, can only mean that the growth is rapid. Ugarkar opines that the victory over Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup was just the trailer for what’s to come.
“I think the coaching is great here [like India]. It’s just that back in Bangalore, the route or hierarchy to success is drilled into our minds from day one, which is important honestly. We’ve got to play zonal-level, then state probables, and then for the state, before getting into the National Cricket Academy. Here, the route is a bit different. But in terms of quality, expect more pleasant surprises like the T20WC in the future.”
“Best Experience in My Cricketing Journey”:
‘With an impressive fast bowling lineup and the watchful gaze of our Bowling Coach, Lasith Malinga, he’s going to have a steep learning curve at MI New York,’ reads the fiery seamer’s bio on the website of the MLC franchise.
With a beaming smile, Ugarkar recounts the moment that made all the struggles and hard work worth it. “I remember when I first joined MINY, there was no way I was breaking into the XI immediately. But during this time, I got a bunch of one-on-one sessions with Lasith sir,” reminisces the youngster. “That whole phase, by far, was the most impactful learning curve for me, and the best experience in my cricketing journey.”
Dreams & Goals:
Ugarkar cites the rapidly evolving nature of cricket as something that constantly alters his goals. “At the international stage, a specialist batter or bowler simply isn’t as attractive anymore. You need to be able to make a decisive stamp in all departments, which is why I’ve been working a lot on my batting – I want to become a frontline all-rounder. I definitely think that in a sport like cricket, your goals need to keep changing as the game changes.”
“Coming to my dreams, it may be a long shot but I do want to play test cricket for the USA. It may not happen in my time, and I’m fine with that as long as I do everything in my power to get us as close as possible. But ideally, I want to be someone who plays franchise leagues around the world and also represents my country.” Aged 21, Ugarkar opines that the likes of Saurabh Netravalkar have set the platform for the next generation to lift off.
Asked about the Indian Premier League team he would like to play for, Ugarkar is clear about where he stands. “Mumbai Indians for sure. At the same time, it would be a privilege to be a part of any of those setups; the takeaways would be invaluable. It’s all a stepping stone to what I want to achieve, which is greatness.”
That right there, sums up the mindset of a star in the making.
