KOTA, India — In a city where coaching institutes churn out engineers and doctors by the thousands, Kunal Singh Rathore has carved a different path. On May 4, 2025, the 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Kota, Rajasthan, pulled on the pink jersey of the Rajasthan Royals and stepped onto the IPL stage against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. It was a debut that marked a milestone: Rathore became the first cricketer from Kota to secure an IPL contract, a feat that’s got his hometown buzzing.
Rathore’s journey to the IPL wasn’t a straight shot. Kota, a dusty hub of academic pressure, isn’t exactly a cricket breeding ground. Most kids here are buried in textbooks, not chasing leather balls. Rathore, though, was different. He picked up a bat at eight, dreaming of stumps and sixes while his parents pushed for a safer bet—studies. They relented eventually, seeing his grit, and let him chase the game. That choice paid off when Rajasthan Royals snapped him up for Rs 30 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction on November 25, 2024.
Before the bright lights of the IPL, Rathore was grinding in domestic cricket. He’s played 12 T20 matches for Rajasthan, racking up 254 runs at an average of 36.28 and a strike rate of 138, with a half-century to his name. In first-class cricket, he’s got 580 runs from 15 matches, averaging 30.52. His breakout came in the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he smashed 147 runs, catching the eye of IPL scouts. Earlier this year, in the DY Patil T20 Cup, he blazed 109 runs in three innings, averaging 54.5 with a strike rate of 209.6—a hint of the flair he brings to the crease.
Rathore’s not just a batter. He’s a keeper, one of three in the Royals’ squad alongside captain Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel. On debut day, he stepped in for Nitish Rana, who was sidelined with a minor injury. Samson, also out with an injury, left a gap Rathore was ready to fill. The Royals, who’ve had him in their ranks since 2023, see him as a homegrown talent with serious potential. He trained at their academy camp in Nagpur as an Under-17 player, learning the ropes and earning his stripes.
The debut wasn’t just about Rathore. It was about Kota—a city of 1.2 million that’s now got a cricket hero to cheer for. His first IPL game, in front of a roaring crowd at Eden Gardens, was a moment of pride for a place better known for exam halls than cricket fields. Rathore walked out carrying not just his bat but the hopes of a community rarely in the sporting spotlight.
He’s a left-hander, aggressive and stylish, with a nod to Aussie keeper Brad Haddin as his inspiration. His domestic numbers show he can anchor an innings or go big when it counts. In the IPL, he’s yet to face a ball, but the stage is set. The Royals, battling to find their batting groove this season, are banking on young blood like Rathore to spark something special.
Kunal Singh Rathore, born in Kota, is 22. He’s played for Rajasthan in domestic cricket since 2022. He was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 30 lakh in 2024. His IPL debut was on May 4, 2025, against Kolkata Knight Riders.