For an 18-year-old growing up around cricket bats in his father's manufacturing business in Jalandhar, the dream of playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was a pipe dream that he carved out for himself. Five-year-old Krish Bhagat used to swing bats in the aisles of his father's factory; today he is face-to-face with legends, sharing dressing rooms with icons and making dreams come true as one of the most promising upcoming talents in domestic and franchise cricket.

In an exclusive, candid interview with Sports Yaari, Krish shares his journey from a local academy to the DY Patil T20 League, rubbing shoulders with Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma at Mumbai Indians, receiving a surprise pep talk from Virat Kohli and what it takes to bowl under extreme pressure in the world's toughest T20 ecosystem.

The Spark in Jalandhar and the DY Patil Breakthrough: Krish Bhagat

Cricket was never a hobby for Krish; it was a way of life, embedded in the sports manufacturing ecosystem Krish's father was a part of.

“I was quite young when I joined the academy. My father has a sports manufacturing business, and whenever I used to go to his factory to play with the bats.

I asked my dad to get me enrolled in an academy,” Krish says.

After years of brawling in domestic circuits, Krish bagged a spot in the DY Patil T20 League and playing under the radar for Reliance caught the eye of talent spotters.

“Last year when I played for Reliance in DY Patil, the usual contracted players get more opportunities, but they gave me a chance, and I delivered well. It gave me a hint that if someone gets injured, or if some teams are scouting for replacements, then there is a possibility that I might be on their radar,” he adds.

When the call from the IPL came, stepping into the Mumbai Indians' dressing room as a teenager was a surreal experience.

Meeting his idols was a dream come true, which Krish says has become a regular occurrence since being a part of the setup, beginning with the “God of Cricket”, Sachin Tendulkar

“It was during a team meeting where I was seated when suddenly Sachin Sir came from behind me; I was really surprised. I went up to him and touched his feet; obviously he is God. We had a small chat about cricket,” Krish says with a smile.

Learning the ropes from Mumbai Indians' captain Rohit Sharma was a bonus for the youngster

“Rohit Bhaiya is very calm; he doesn't talk a lot. Whenever I used to bowl to him in the nets, I used to ask him as to what I could work on. He said my slower ball and my length are very good; the more I back it and work on it, it will benefit my game.”

When it comes to death bowling, Krish cites pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as someone who has helped him understand the art of the situation.

“When you talk about death bowling, there is only one rule to it. The clearer your mind is, the more it will benefit you. If you commit to bowling a Yorker, you cannot be double-minded about it; you have to commit fully,” he says.

A Surprise Encounter with Virat Kohli

Before sharing dressing rooms with Kolkata Knight Riders, Krish had an unbelievable fan-boy moment as a net bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

While sitting in the stands, soaking in the atmosphere, Krish was tapped on the shoulder “I didn't turn around immediately, thinking it was a friend, but the next moment he said, 'kya haal hai, hero', I knew the voice immediately. It was Virat Kohli!”

The words of wisdom Kohli shared with him still resonate with Krish. “He told me to focus on things which are in my control. I cannot control results, but I can control my hard work. Focus on the hard work and not the results,” he shares.

Fast Facts & Rapid-Fire with Krish Bhagat

Favorite Cheat Meal: Butter Chicken from Baba Chicken in Jalandhar – “I can eat this anytime!”

Ultimate T20 Death Bowler (19th Over): Jasprit Bumrah – “No one does death bowling better than him.”

Dream Duel: Facing MS Dhoni in the final over with 20 runs to defend – “I want to test where I stand against the ultimate finisher.”

Fame vs. Privacy: Prefers Fame

Fitness vs. Cheat Meal: Strict fitness sessions

Looking Ahead

As he continues to light up regional leagues such as Shere Punjab T20 – where young talents find a direct pipeline to IPL scouts – Krish Bhagat continues to focus on the basics taught by his idols. Whether it is hitting six-pack sixes in the middle order or yorkers in the death overs, the boy from Jalandhar is ready to make a mark on the big stage.