Anshul Kamboj will never forget July 23, 2025.Playing his debut Test match for India at Old Trafford, the young right-arm seamer from Haryana claimed his maiden international wicket by dismissing England’s Ben Duckett for 94.
The wicket turned out to be more than just a personal milestone. It was a crucial breakthrough in the game, halting England’s strong start and breaking a threatening partnership.
But things didn’t start off smoothly for Kamboj. He looked a bit off-rhythm early in the innings, conceding runs at a brisk rate. In his first spell, the player only bowled a spell of 4 overs. There were a few nervy overs, and the English batters, especially Duckett, were quick to capitalise.
However, what separates a promising cricketer from the rest is the ability to bounce back. And bounce back Kamboj did. He came back to bowl in the 39th over and got his breakthrough.
Duckett was dismissed caught behind to Dhruv Jurel. Although the ball was not very extraordinary, what really caught the batter by surprise was the extra bounce generated by Kamboj. This reminded us of something that Dhoni had said earlier in IPL 2025.
Dhoni Praises Kamboj
MS Dhoni had earlier praised the youngster’s unique bowling traits. “Kamboj is someone who doesn’t get swing, but he gets some seam movement. The ball hits you harder than the speed gun suggests,” he said. “He has taken the responsibility and he is someone who can bowl good yorkers.”
And that is exactly what he did in Manchester—stayed patient, stuck to his plans, and eventually earned a breakthrough that could very well mark the beginning of a long international journey.
Kamboj’s rise to the Indian team was fast-tracked after an impressive IPL 2025 season with Chennai Super Kings. In his debut IPL season, the pacer played 8 matches, picked up 8 wickets, and delivered a match-winning spell of 3/13 against Gujarat Titans. His average of 21.50 and strike rate of 16.13 spoke volumes about his control, while an economy of 8.00 under pressure situations made him a trusted asset for CSK in crunch games.
More Than Just a Debut for Kamboj
What makes Kamboj’s debut even more memorable is the historic parallel he now shares with Anil Kumble. He became the first Indian Test debutant at Old Trafford in 35 years, and interestingly, both Kamboj and Kumble have taken all 10 wickets in a first-class innings earlier in their careers.
From domestic cricket to IPL and now a dream debut at Old Trafford, Anshul Kamboj’s story is just getting started.
