Kumar Kushagra is an Indian first-class cricketer who plays domestic cricket as a wicket-keeper batter. He represents Jharkhand in the senior domestic circuit and has also been associated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise system through the auction process.
| Name | Kumar Kushagra |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | Wicket-keeper batter |
| Domestic team | Jharkhand |
| Batting style | Left-handed |
Kushagra came through age-group cricket in Jharkhand, a state in eastern India whose senior cricket is administered by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), based in Ranchi. He progressed through the state's youth set-up before being selected for the senior side in domestic competitions organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Kushagra has appeared for Jharkhand in the major domestic tournaments run by the BCCI, which include the Ranji Trophy (first-class), the Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A), and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (Twenty20). As a left-handed batter who keeps wicket, he has been used in the middle order, where his ability to play spin and accelerate in the back end of an innings has been noted by selectors.
Kushagra was picked up at the IPL player auction by the Delhi Capitals, joining the franchise as a wicket-keeping option. His selection drew attention as part of a wider trend of younger Indian wicket-keeper batters being scouted from state cricket for the IPL.
As a left-handed wicket-keeper batter, Kushagra is part of a relatively small group of Indian glovemen who bat from the left side. His domestic outings have featured both anchoring innings and quick-scoring cameos in limited-overs formats.
Kushagra is among a generation of cricketers from Jharkhand who have followed the pathway opened by earlier players from the state, most notably Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in establishing the region as a regular supplier of wicket-keeping talent to Indian domestic and franchise cricket.