Ramakrishna Ghosh Exclusive: A Late Bloomer who left School for Cricket; CSK All-Rounder's Gritty Path to IPL Stardom

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Life is all about opportunities. And when it arrives, it's all about grabbing them. For Ramakrishna Ghosh, the opportunity may have arrived late, but it has finally come knocking on his door, and the player is utilizing every iota of that, honing his skills at the highest stage of domestic cricket.

In an exclusive conversation with MyKhel, Maharashtra's rising all-rounder Ramakrishna Ghosh reflects on his breakout Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, where he snared 17 wickets and chipped in crucial runs.

Retained by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of IPL 2026, the 27-year-old late bloomer shares insights on high-pressure bowling, captaining under Ruturaj Gaikwad, lessons from MS Dhoni's setup, and his gritty path to domestic stardom.

Bowling a Maiden in the 50th Over

Ghosh's highlight reel from the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy includes a couple of rare maiden overs in the final overs against Goa, a feat that's increasingly elusive in modern limited-overs cricket. With nine wickets down and 11 runs needed off 18 balls, the batsmen were under siege. He bowled the 48th and 50th over, and didn't concede a single run.

"Honestly, it was a great moment, but the conditions really favored me. The batsmen were cautious with the last wicket standing. Ruturaj told me, 'Just go for the wicket-don't worry about the runs.' We set attacking fields like a Test match: short leg, slips, making singles tough. In the 50th over, against Lalit Yadav, the ball was reversing sharply, the pitch had low bounce typical of northern tracks. Ruturaj's plan was simple: yorkers, mixed with cutters and slower balls. With No. 11 at non-striker's end, it was do-or-die-no singles possible. I capitalized on that."

Playing Under Ruturaj Gaikwad

As Maharashtra's captain and Ghosh's CSK skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad earns high praise for his tactical nous and composure-qualities that shine in both domestic and IPL arenas.

"It's fantastic playing under him. Ruturaj is calm-headed and practical, always calculating comebacks," Ghosh said. "Even if you leak a boundary or six early in an over, he says, 'Minimize runs in the next four.' He keeps it simple for bowlers-no pressure, just clear plans based on your strengths and the situation. On slow pitches, it's slower balls; on flat ones, yorkers or bouncers. Fields match perfectly, and if you get hit on plan, he says, 'Never mind-execute the next one.' He's the captain every player dreams of, always backing his bowlers."

Lessons from CSK and MS Dhoni

Retained by CSK after a quiet IPL 2025 stint without games, Ghosh soaked up wisdom from an iconic setup which is blessed with MS Dhoni. He will be getting an opportunity to live the dream again, and Ramakrishna has only good things to say.

"I'm really fortunate to have gotten a chance with CSK last year. My biggest learning? Watching MS Dhoni, Ruturaj, the coaches, and staff-they're all so calm under pressure. That's what I've absorbed, the composure every cricketer needs," he shared.

"It's about smart work over hard work. I always ask the coaching staff for doubts, even off-season with Ruturaj. It's about handling pressure, reading the game, and tackling situations like elites do-small observations from that amazing setup. For CSK, If they think I'm ready for the XI, great; if not, they'll groom me. They spot everything, and I'm grateful for the time and retention."

A Late Bloomer's Journey

Ramakrishna's debut for Maharashtra came in 2022, when he played the first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match. And his first class debut came a couple of years later in 2024. The player has broken into the mix, maybe a bit late, but he intends to grab every opportunity.

"Yes, I got the opportunities a bit late. I played at the under 19, 23 levels, but seniors were excelling then and I stayed patient, kept upgrading. Every cricketer dreams of India - my father, a former Maharashtra Ranji fast bowler and my coach, instilled that. Whatever I am now is because of my father."

And the moment when cricket really became his primary focus was at the age of 16, when a teenage Ramakrishna finally decided his mind to grow with the game.

"At 16, post-9th grade, my father asked Studies or cricket? I chose cricket. He pulled me from school, and gave my 10th externally. While my friends studied, I trained. That sportsman mindset and seeking improvement, showcasing skills, began there. I am getting the rewards a bit late, but it's all because of that.

All-Rounder Mindset: Batting Contributions on the Rise

Ramakrishna is maybe known as a bowling all-rounder, but he has instilled a unique mentality. The player recently showcased not just his bowling skills in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but also did extremely well with the bat. He scored a couple of fifties, one of which was an unbeaten 64 off just 27 deliveries against Mumbai, which had the likes of Shardul Thakur, Shams Mulani in the attack.

"When batting, I'm a batter, and when bowling, I'm a bowler. It's the same for fielding as well. I seek to contribute fully wherever needed. Because being a player, the more you contribute for the team, the better it is for the team.
So I keep it very simple."

In the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches, Ramakrishna will be playing a key role for Maharashtra again. As the IPL 2026 arrives, he will have another chance to rub shoulders with the elites, fueling his bold push to the next level.