The IPL auction can be a game-changer for many young Indian cricketers, and that’s exactly what happened to Vidarbha’s Shubham Dubey. The Rajasthan Royals secured the hard-hitting batter for a whopping Rs 5.80 crore after a competitive bidding war with the Delhi Capitals. In the end, it was the Rajasthan Royals who had the last laugh, taking away the Nagpur cricketer under their wings.
Dubey’s journey is a true rags-to-riches story. Growing up in a poor family in Vaishali Nagar, north Nagpur, he could barely afford a cricket kit. During those tough times, Shubham played with borrowed kits. It was then that he came to know about the late Advocate Sudeep Jaiswal, who used to run the Advocate XI Cricket Club. Advocate Jaiswal, a kind-hearted mentor, took care of Shubham, providing him with cricketing gear and even overseeing his diet at times. Shubham expresses gratitude to his first mentor and father figure, saying, “Whatever I am today, it is because of Adv. Sudeep Jaiswal. He was a God-sent angel, supporting me with purchasing kits, expensive bats, and even looking out for my diet.”
“Jaiswal sir was really supportive; he didn’t let me go empty-handed,” shared Dubey, who represents Eleven Star Cricket Club in the Vidarbha Cricket Association’s leagues. “My family faced financial struggles when I started playing cricket, and Sudeep sir helped me a lot. Without him, I wouldn’t have come this far,” admitted Dubey. “Sudeep sir not only gave me a chance to play for his team but also entrusted me with leading the side in local competitions. That boosted my confidence,” added Dubey, whose mother, Jayshree, is a homemaker and father, Badriprasad, does petty work.
Dubey also recalled the times when he used to play tennis, ball cricket to earn money so that he could support his family. “Once Aniruddha Chore, a former Vidarbha stumper, introduced me to the Times Shield tournament in Mumbai, where I used to earn Rs 10,000 per month. That helped me make a living. I played in Mumbai for six months and then returned to play tennis ball cricket in and around Vidarbha.” In a way, that was my earning,” narrated Dubey.
“Rohit bhai (Rohit Kaisalwar) played a big role. He encouraged me and kept me informed about tennis ball tournaments in Vidarbha and central India. At the Royal Cricket Association Club, I had the freedom to train in nets. I also want to express my gratitude to Irfan sir (Irfan Rajjak) for his timely support,” shared Dubey.