Money Grewal, a talented Delhi pacer waiting in the RCB wings

Even as Mayank Yadav is creating waves in the Indian Premier League, another young medium pacer from Delhi, Money Grewal is busy testing the batsmen at the Royal Challengers Bangalore nets.

The 23-year-old right-armer was one of the stars of the Delhi under-23 team that failed to progress beyond the league phase in Col CK Nayudu Trophy, picking 22 wickets in four matches.

The north Delhi boy, who is considered as one for the future in the state team’s pace line-up and could make his first-class debut next season, wasn’t included in the first two matches before getting a look-in for four games.

The disregard in the first two games may have come as a severe disappointment. Cricket for him and his family was succour after Covid had dealt the Grewals a blow.

Father was into transport business but suffered during pandemic. As a result Money left his studies after 12th to focus totally on cricket.

Having done the hard yards in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) League for SB Youth, he got the first chance in senior cricket, the under-23 level this season. But he had wait till the third game which was against Vidarbha.

He immediately impressed, picking four wickets in one innings against the Central Zone team and followed it up with another four against Bengal in the next match.

“He bowls quick, whips up pace and has a very disciplined line,” said Delhi under-23 team assistant coach, Suhail Sharma, a former state all-rounder.

Riding on the confidence of the first two games, the 23-year-old Money took six in first innings against Madhya Pradesh which, however, was in losing cause and then followed it up with another six-for against Uttarakhand, which Delhi won.

“I started playing cricket in 2013-14, when I was 13-14. Started with SB Youth Club in Shalimar Bagh. My initiation into cricket was just like that of any other kid. You start playing on the street and in locality and then join an academy,” said Money to www.thedelhijunction.com.

Life on the cricket field, however, wasn’t a bed of roses. He appeared in trials for Delhi under-16, couldn’t make it and then made to the Delhi under-19 squad prior to Covid. However, he couldn’t get a single game at the U-19 level.

All this while, he continued playing league cricket and impressing.

He has been playing league cricket for SB Youth since 2016-17 and last season in league, he had 14 wickets in eight matches -- four one-dayers and four T20s. He is representing Collage in the 2023-24 season.  

Although he couldn’t make the under-23 one-day team this year due to lack of wickets in trial games, his performance in the trials for multi-day format team was impressive.

He didn’t get many wickets but the selectors and coaches found some nip in his bowling.

“We had a practice match against Services under-23, where I took three wickets. My bowling was liked by everyone,” says Money, who studied at Sri Guru Nanak Public School in Adarsh Nagar.

“I left studies after 12th and focused fully on cricket,” adds the pacer, who practices at RV Sports in Model Town where the likes of Nitish Rana and other batsmen practice.

One hopes his sacrifice and hard work earns him a solid return.

--ENDS--

Tags : Cricket, Delhi, RCB, Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL