TG: When did your cricket journey begin?
KN: When I was in Standard VII, I played in the army area. There my Sir Surender Singh Rathod came to see me play. From there he picked me up and said that I should join the Sanskar Cricket Academy in Jaipur. He said that I could become a good cricketer and I listened to him. Whatever I am today is because of him.
TG: Did you always want to be a fast bowler?
KN: From the start itself, I always thought I would be a fast bowler as that was what I took to when I began playing cricket.
TG: A slight frame at 18 and arguably one of the fastest bowlers in the country. What is the secret of your pace?
KN: It is all due to my training and diet which I am conscious of. I follow on time whatever my trainer, Anand sir gives in the programme. Whatever I am told, I do on time so that my body reacts on time and I can perform. For good pace, you need a good rhythm. Action also is very important. From the start itself I began working on my run-up.
TG: You have been picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for the forthcoming IPL. What was your immediate reaction?
KN: It has been good as it has been a big dream. I used to watch IPL from the start and always wanted to play there one day. It is a dream come true. There will be many senior and international players and it will feel good to bowl against them.
Whatever experience I gain from them, whatever they do and I can see as much as I can will hold me in good stead.
TG: KKR will have pace greats like the two Mitchells “ Johnson and Starc “ in their ranks. Your thoughts…
KN: I have seen them only on TV. Now I will see them in the dressing room and in front of them I will be bowling as well. I will learn a lot from them.
It has to be seen how much I will learn from them and how well I will do in front of them.
TG: Who are your cricket idols?
KN: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami.
TG: How did you feel when India won the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand?
KN: It felt good. Previously when I had seen the World Cup, it was my dream to play there. And that we (India) won it, with Dravid sir (coach) it felt good.
TG: Which was the best game you had in the World Cup?
KN: (unable to single out any) The first match against Australia (3/29), then the quarter-finals against Bangladesh (3/18) and the final (v Australia, 2/41) was good as well. As for my favourite wicket, Australia’s Austin Waugh (Steve Waugh’s son) has to be the best as I got the wicket through a well-set plan. I was successful in bowling an intimidating bouncer upfront to the batsman to which he got out.
TG: Only recently you debuted for Rajasthan in First Class cricket. How different is the domestic structure from the U-19s?
KN: There is a big difference. The players at the U-19 level are less matured. At the First Class level you have to bowl accordingly where the level of cricket is better. In U-19, with a little plan you get success. But in First Class cricket, where players are better, you have to plan well. You have to focus on things that you want to do and to that effect I am conscious.
TG: What are your dreams moving forward?
KN: I want to perform well in the IPL and play for the Indian senior team.
