The 2024 edition of Red Bull Speedster, a national talent search to discover the next generation of India’s fast bowlers, is here.
The competition, jointly run by Red Bull and Rajasthan Royals, offers young aspiring bowlers the chance to prove their skills, compete regionally and nationally, and train with elite coaches and Rajasthan Royals’ stars.
The program was conceived with the stated aim of giving wings to amateur pacers with a stage where they could showcase their raw talent. The first edition was held in 2020 with qualifiers taking place in multiple cities.
‘Giving Wiiings’ to speedsters
The program stated aim is not only to unearth the best fast bowling talent from across India, but also to provide the right facilities, expert guidance, and fast-track young talents to a bigger stage. It serves as a grassroots-focused, national-level talent discovery platform, helping fast bowlers realise their potential. Since its first edition in 2020, the program has seen success stories over the years – more recently with the likes of Naman Tiwari, who credited the program with his development into an international-level U19 player for India, most recently at the 2024 ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.
Much like Tiwari, the duo of Mohammad Sharim and Pratik Kumar were selected from Lucknow and Ranchi respectively in the 2020 edition. Having impressed with their raw talent, Sharim and Pratik spent three months at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Center in Talegaon, Nagpur, including bowling to the star Royals players in the nets during the IPL.
What’s happening in 2024
Red Bull Speedster 2024 will take place across nine cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Jaipur, offering participants a shot at training at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Center and access to expert coaching along with the chance to become a net bowler with the Royals under the purview of their bowling coach Shane Bond.
Pankaj Singh, former India and Rajasthan Royals pacer, will join the program as a talent scout for the city qualifiers.
