Robin Minz, a 21-year-old cricketer from Ranchi, recently gained recognition in the IPL auction. Employed as a security guard at Ranchi airport, his father, Francis Xavier Minz, shared the moment when Gujarat Titans picked Robin for Rs 3.60 crore after a bidding war with Mumbai Indians.
The Minz family, originally from Telgaon, a village in Gumla district, has a background in sports, with a focus on hockey. However, Robin’s interest in cricket developed in Ranchi, influenced by the city’s cricket icon, MS Dhoni.
Robin’s journey in cricket started under the guidance of Chanchal Bhattacharya, Dhoni’s childhood coach. Chanchal recalls the early days when there was only one cricket academy in Ranchi. Robin, who aspired to be like Dhoni, excelled in wicket-keeping and powerful hitting.
“Koi nahi lega toh hum le lenge”, Dhoni said to Father Franics
Father Francis too has Dhoni story. “I had met Dhoni at the airport recently. He told me Francisji koi nahi lega toh hum le lenge. (If no one picks him, we will),” he says. Robin, often compared to West Indian player Chris Gayle, is known for his aggressive playing style, aiming for a high strike rate.
Training at the Sonnet Cricket Club in Ranchi under coaches like Asif Haque and S P Gautam, Robin is described as “Ranchi ka Gayle” due to his left-handed, powerful batting style. Despite efforts to encourage shots along the ground, Robin prefers aggressive hitting, reminiscent of Dhoni’s early days.
In a similar development, another young cricketer from Jharkhand, Kumar Kushagra, was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 7.20 crore in the same auction. This follows the trend of IPL teams recognizing and investing in emerging talents from the region, as seen previously with players like Ishan Kishan.
