Arpit Guleria, the 26-year-old pacer, made headlines on December 5, 2023, with a historic bowling performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Bowling for Himachal Pradesh against Gujarat, Guleria achieved remarkable figures of 8-50. Let’s delve into five interesting facts about this rising cricket star.
1. 13th Bowler to Achieve an Eight-Wicket Haul in List-A Cricket
Arpit Guleria’s exceptional feat of taking eight wickets in a List-A contest puts him in an elite group. Only 12 bowlers had accomplished this before him. Among Indians, Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Sanghvi are the only other bowlers to achieve this milestone. Guleria’s performance adds him to a prestigious list that includes international players like Chaminda Vaas, Shaun Tait, and Michael Holding.
2. Recently Released by LSG
Arpit Guleria was brought in by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a replacement player during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. However, he did not get a chance to play in the tournament. After being released by LSG ahead of IPL 2024, Guleria’s remarkable Vijay Hazare Trophy performance has undoubtedly raised his stock, making him an attractive prospect for IPL franchises in the upcoming auction.
3. Maiden List-A Wicket Was Ruturaj Gaikwad
Guleria made his List-A debut against Maharashtra in the 2019 Vijay Hazare Trophy. In a promising start to his List-A career, he picked up two wickets, including the maiden scalp of Ruturaj Gaikwad in his very first over. Despite his impactful debut, Maharashtra successfully chased down the target.
4. Switched Domestic Sides from Himachal Pradesh to Services in 2022
After representing Himachal Pradesh in domestic cricket from 2018 to 2022, Guleria made a switch to the Services team. However, after a season, he returned to Himachal Pradesh and has been part of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. His decision to switch sides has added an interesting chapter to his cricketing journey.
5. T20 Debut in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
In a rare occurrence in contemporary cricket, Guleria made his T20 debut in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, five years after his first-class debut. He played only two T20 matches, taking one wicket at an economy rate of 7.83. Interestingly, if given an opportunity earlier in the 2023 season by LSG, it would have marked his T20 debut, showcasing the unconventional trajectory of his cricket career.
Arpit Guleria’s recent exploits have undoubtedly turned heads in the cricketing world, and fans eagerly await more remarkable performances from this emerging fast bowler.