Avinash Rao (Cricketer) Biography, Wiki, Age, Height, Family, Records, Match Stats & More
Avinash Rao is a name that has been making headlines in the cricket world lately. He is an Indian cricketer who was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs. 60 lakhs during the 2023 Indian Premier League’s mini-auction in Kochi. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who can clock speeds of over 150 kmph. But what makes his story even more remarkable is that he came from a humble background and had no formal training in cricket until a year ago. He is a classic example of how talent, hard work, and luck can change one’s destiny.
Avinash Rao Wiki/Bio
| Name | Avinash Rao |
|---|---|
| Born | in 2004 |
| Age | 19 years |
| Place of birth | Potgal village of Mustabad Mandal in Rajanna Sirisilla district |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Caste | Rajasthani |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Role | Right-arm fast-medium bowler |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Current team | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| IPL debut | 2023 |
| IPL price | Rs. 60 lakhs |
| Domestic debut | 2022 |
| Domestic team | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Coach | Mayank Goswami |
| Records | Fastest delivery of 154.3 kmph in IPL camps |
| Awards | Hinterland Scouting Award 2023 |
| Hobbies | Reading, travelling, playing video games |
| Favourite cricketer | Dale Steyn |
| Favourite food | Rajma chawal |
| Favorite food | Chak De! India |
| Links | Instagram- #avinashrao Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography
Eravalli Avinash Rao is 19 years old as of 2023. He is a rising star in Indian cricket, who has been selected as the wicket-keeper for the Under-19 World Cup to be held in South Africa in January 2024. He hails from the Potgal village of Mustabad Mandal in Rajanna Sirisilla district, which is known for its textile industry. His parents, Eravalli Laxman Rao and Sushma are software professionals who moved to Hyderabad two decades ago. He has a sister who is also pursuing her studies.
Avinash developed a passion for cricket from a young age and started playing with his friends in school. He joined a private college for his intermediate education and enrolled in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). He impressed the coaches and selectors with his skills and performance and got the opportunity to play in various state and national-level tournaments. He proved his mettle in every match and earned a place in the Indian team for the Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai in December 2023. His parents accompanied him to Dubai to support him and witness his achievements.
Avinash Rao’s selection for the Under-19 World Cup is a matter of pride and joy for his family, his village, his district and his state. He is one of the two players from Telangana who made it to the squad, along with Murugan Abhishek. He received congratulations and best wishes from many dignitaries, including BRS Working President and MLA KTR, who tweeted about his remarkable feat.
Height, Weight
- Height: 6 ft 2 in or 188 cm
- Weight: 75 kg or 165 lbs
- Eye color: Dark brown
- Body measurements: Chest – 40 in or 102 cm, Waist – 32 in or 81 cm, Biceps – 14 in or 36 cm
- Skin color: Fair
- Hair color: Black
- Shoe size: 10 (US) or 9 (UK) or 43 (EU)
The Turning Point
In February 2022, Avinash Rao accompanied one of his friends to Mayank Goswami’s cricket academy, where he came into the notice of the former cricketer and coach Mayank Goswami. Goswami was impressed by Avinash’s bowling style and speed and asked him to join his academy.
However, he did not take him seriously and did not return. After a week, Goswami sent a coach from his academy to Avinash’s house and requested his father to let him join the academy. His father declined the offer, citing financial issues and his plan to send him to Canada. Goswami then visited his father personally and convinced him to let him play cricket. He assured him that if he did not achieve anything big within a year, he could send him to Canada. He also offered to bear all the expenses of Avinash’s training and equipment.
He agreed to join Goswami’s academy and got his first exposure to professional cricket. He held a leather ball for the first time and learned the basics of bowling from Goswami. He also improved his fitness and stamina under Goswami’s guidance. After a few weeks, Goswami sent Avinash to Pune to train under Ashok Gaikwad, another cricket coach, for a few months. He learned the finer aspects of bowling and developed his skills further. He also got a chance to play with some of the best players in the country and gained confidence and experience.
Record, Match Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Catches | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List A | 2 | 12 | 6.00 | 66.66 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| YODI | 7 | 141 | 28.20 | 77.46 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 3 |
The Breakthrough
Avinash Rao returned to his hometown in June 2022 and started performing at the camps of various IPL franchises, such as RCB, LSG, and DC. He impressed the scouts and coaches with his bowling action and speed. He also clocked the fastest delivery of 154.3 kmph at one of the camps. He was invited to join the training sessions of RCB and got a chance to bowl to some of the star players of the team, such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell. He also received valuable tips and feedback from them.
Avinash’s dream came true when he was picked by RCB for Rs. 60 lakhs during the 2023 IPL’s mini-auction in Kochi. He was one of the few players who were discovered through Hinterland Scouting, an AI-based scouting system that helps to screen out players across the country. He was overjoyed and grateful for the opportunity and thanked Goswami and Gaikwad for their support and guidance. He also dedicated his success to his parents and brothers, who stood by him throughout his journey.
CSK sign Hyderabad’s Avinash Rao for IPL 2024
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have added a new face to their squad for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The franchise has signed Hyderabad’s wicketkeeper-batter Avinash Rao for Rs. 40 lakhs during the IPL 2024 auction held in Dubai on Tuesday (December 19).
Rao, who is 19 years old, is the youngest Indian player to feature in the auction this year. He made his debut for Hyderabad in the 2022-23 domestic season and impressed with his batting skills and glove work. He scored 312 runs in 10 matches at an average of 34.66 and a strike rate of 128.57. He also effected 12 dismissals behind the stumps.
Avinash is also a part of the India U-19 squad that will participate in the U-19 World Cup in South Africa next year. He is expected to play a key role in the team’s campaign as a middle-order batter and a wicketkeeper.
CSK, who are the defending champions of the IPL, have retained their core players for the next season. They have also added some experienced and young players to their squad during the auction. They have bought the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Rahul Chahar, and Jaydev Unadkat among others.
CSK’s complete squad for IPL 2024 is as follows:
MS Dhoni (c & wk), Shreyas Iyer, Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir, Lungi Ngidi, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham, Rahul Chahar, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Avinash Rao (wk), Sai Kishore, N Jagadeesan (wk), KM Asif, and Hari Nishanth.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth (INR) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | ₹10 Lakh INR |
| 2022 | ₹40 Lakh INR |
| 2023 | ₹80 Lakh INR |
The Future
Avinash Rao is now gearing up for his debut in the IPL, where he will be sharing the dressing room with some of the legends of the game. He is looking forward to learning from them and proving his worth on the field. He is also hopeful of representing India at the international level someday and making his country proud. He is an inspiration for many young and aspiring cricketers who come from humble backgrounds and face various challenges. He is a living proof that nothing is impossible if one has talent, passion, and determination. He is a rising star of Indian cricket and a name to watch out for in the future.
