For the brief time he was part of the national team, Praveen Kumar made quite an impression with the ball. What he lacked in pace, he more than made up with his ability to swing.
However, like many a fast bowler in the country, injuries interrupted his international career and the soon to be 31-year-old could never make a comeback since he last played for the country five years ago.
While a National call-up looks slim, he has been regularly part of the IPL and is now in the city as part of the Uttar Pradesh team that will take part in the Buchi Babu tournament starting on Saturday.
When asked what keeps him motivated, Praveen was straightforward: “The only motivation is that it is better to play a few games rather than sitting idle at home.
“I plan to play for another couple of seasons and be a part of the IPL earning some money. That’s the whole motivation.”
For the upcoming domestic season, the side could end up without the services of Kuldeep Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who could be busy with National duties.
Last year, R.P. Singh moved to Gujarat and this year Piyush Chawla has decided to follow the same path leaving the likes of Suresh Raina and Praveen to guide Uttar Pradesh.
It is something the medium-pacer from Meerut sees himself doing as he is one of the most senior members of his State side and is more than keen to transition to a coaching role once he hangs up his boots.
“They (youngsters) come and take lessons from me. So I would love to mentor youngsters. It is good to share what I have learnt,” he concluded.