Not Vaibhav Suryavanshi but this player was first to play IPL from Samastipur, he use to play with stones for..., his name is...

Written By: Ankit Kumar | Updated: Jun 7, 2025, 6:53 PM

Facebook
WhatsApp
X
Email
Telegram
Linkedin

https://www.india.com/photos/sports/not-vaibhav-suryavanshi-but-this-player-was-first-to-play-ipl-from-samastipur-he-use-to-play-with-stones-for-his-name-is-anukul-roy-447607/

Not Vaibhav Suryavanshi, but this cricketer was the first from Samastipur to play in the IPL. Known for spinning magic today, he once played with stones in village streets — his name is...

Anukul Rai: The first shining star of Samastipur

Although Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Samastipur is being discussed everywhere these days, but the first player to bring glory to Samastipur in IPL was Anukul Rai. Anukul's success story is not only inspiring but is also full of his childhood mischiefs. Today Anukul Rai is a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team and is known as an excellent left-arm spinner. But very few people know that his bowling did not start from any academy or coach, but by throwing stones at people in the streets of the village.

Whoever would rebuke him, he would hit him!

People of Anukul Rai's village say that he was very mischievous in his childhood and would often throw stones here and there. If someone would rebuke him, he would target him. He used to do this at the young age of 10 years. People of the village used to reach his grandparents with complaints, but little did they know that this art of aiming would one day give Anukul international recognition.

Grandmothers special interview — Grandmother's special interview

When the Local 18 team talked to Anukul Roy's 85-year-old grandmother Pawan Rekha Devi, she said smilingly, "He was very naughty in childhood, he was the youngest in the house, so he was everyone's darling. We all used to love him a lot, maybe that's why he became more mischievous." When asked how he was in sports, the grandmother said, "He was very good in sports, he has studied up to matriculation."

Love even in grandmothers anger — Love even in grandmother's anger

When the team wanted to know whether Anukul still talks to her, the grandmother said smilingly, "He doesn't talk to us, he talks to his parents. We are angry with him." But the very next moment she added, "We definitely give our blessings. Whether he talks to us or not, whenever he comes, he touches our feet and greets us, this is his sanskar."

Career made from childhood mischief

When Anukul Roy comes to Samastipur, he calls his grandmother and tells her to greet him from here, tsk. He further said, “Whenever he comes to Samastipur, he calls and says – ‘Dadi, come to Samastipur, give me your blessings’. But in childhood, he used to trouble a lot. He used to harass people by throwing stones at them, then people would come to us with complaints. We used to explain to him, then scold him too. But who knew then that this very aim would one day make him famous in the country and the world.”

Samastipur’s identity in cricket

After Anukul Roy’s success, the enthusiasm for cricket has increased a lot among the youth of Samastipur. Young players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi also come from this district and have attracted everyone’s attention by getting a big bid in IPL at a young age. Vaibhav started IPL by hitting a six, which brought him into the limelight. In this way, Samastipur district is becoming the pride of the state and the country not only in the field of education but also in sports, especially cricket.

Related Photos

8

Bad news for Dhoni's CSK before IPL 2026, star player creates UNWANTED record after being bought for Rs...
8

Not only Arjun Tendulkar, these 6 well known names are also unlikely to play a single match in IPL 2025
7

5 Kolkata Knight Riders stars who Impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Ready for IPL 2025

Not Vaibhav Suryavanshi but this player was first to play IPL from Samastipur, he use to play with stones for..., his name is...

Share Article

Not Vaibhav Suryavanshi, but this cricketer was the first from Samastipur to play in the IPL. Known for spinning magic today, he once played with stones in village streets — his name is...

Anukul Rai: The first shining star of Samastipur

Whoever would rebuke him, he would hit him!

Grandmother's special interview

Love even in grandmother's anger

Career made from childhood mischief

Samastipur’s identity in cricket

Related Photos

Bad news for Dhoni's CSK before IPL 2026, star player creates UNWANTED record after being bought for Rs...

Not only Arjun Tendulkar, these 6 well known names are also unlikely to play a single match in IPL 2025

5 Kolkata Knight Riders stars who Impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Ready for IPL 2025

Tags: