Former India medium fast bowler Praveen Kumar believes U-19 star Kartik Tyagi is already a "fully-seasoned" customer, who has a bright future ahead of him. Tyagi, with his pace and aggression, has lit up the junior World Cup in South Africa, taking nine wickets in four innings so far, including the magnificent spell of 4/24 in India's quarterfinal victory over Australia this Tuesday (January 28). 

Praveen, though, knew of the 18-year-old's great potential even before he burst onto the scenes in youth cricket. 

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"Ek dum paka hua bowler (fully seasoned), even then," Indian Express quoted Praveen on the UP lad, whom he saw for the first time a couple of years ago on the insistence of famous Meerut coach Vipin Vats.

It was Vats who encouraged Tyagi to take up fast bowling as other kids in the group were more interested in becoming batsman. Tyagi instantly began to make a mark for himself in age-group cricket when Praveen urged the then UP captain Suresh Raina to have a look at him. 

"On a flat track, he was at another level from other bowlers," he added. "He was swinging the ball at will and with pace. I felt yeh ladka bheed mein na gum ho jaye. (hope this boy doesn’t get lost in the crowd). That’s why I called Raina."

The right-arm speedster made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2017 before an untimely stress fractured held him back. On return, however, he got picked at a sum of Rs 1.3 crores by Rajasthan Royals at the IPL auction in Kolkata and was selected to play this U-19 World Cup for India. 

(Inputs from Indian Express)