Naman Tiwari

Naman Tiwari’s journey into fast bowling is an unconventional one. He began as a batter, but limited opportunities at his academy in Lucknow meant he soon shifted his focus to pace bowling.

Coming from a middle-class family, Naman faced the typical pressures to prioritise academics over sports. In 2019, he made a serious promise to his father. He asked for just three years to dedicate completely to cricket, agreeing that if he couldn't make significant progress by then, he would quietly return to his studies. This promise became his ultimate driving force, pushing him to work harder than ever and eventually moving his training to a park in Gomti Nagar to better accommodate his intense practice needs.

His early domestic journey had its share of ups and downs. After a brilliant performance in the Raj Singh Dungarpur Under-14 trophy, where he took 14 wickets, he faced a tough setback when he missed out on selection for the U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy. Instead of giving up, Naman used the rejection to hone his skills further under coach Yash Sahani. His dedication paid off brilliantly after the pandemic, when he bagged 26 wickets in a U-19 tournament for Uttar Pradesh, earning him a spot at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and a place in the UP T20 league.

These strong domestic showings paved the way for his international youth debut. Naman shone for India in the 2023 U-19 Asia Cup and the subsequent tri-series in South Africa. His biggest breakthrough came during the 2024 ICC Under-19 World Cup, where he proved to be India's most successful fast bowler. Consistently clocking speeds around 145 km/h, he claimed 12 wickets in just 6 innings, highlighted by spectacular, consecutive four-wicket hauls against Ireland and the USA.

His association with Lucknow Super Giants began as a net bowler, where he spent two seasons working closely with mentor Zaheer Khan and refining his skills. That exposure proved crucial, as LSG went on to secure his services for INR 1 crore ahead of the 2026 IPL season.