Praveen Kumar, an ex-fast bowler from India, recently shared his reluctance to join Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008.
He expressed that his preferred team was the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) because Delhi is nearer to Meerut, his hometown. Praveen Kumar narrated a story about an unexpected contract he was pressured to sign by a representative from RCB before the season started.
He didn’t know it was a contract at the time and ended up penning his name. Kumar shared that as he resisted becoming an RCB member, Lalit Modi, IPL’s creator, intimidated him with career termination threats.
He recounted this during a Lallantop interview, stating:
“I did not want to play for RCB because Bangalore was quite far away from my place, I didn’t know English, and the food was not to my liking. Delhi is quite close to Meerut, which would have allowed me to travel to my home once in a while. However, there was a person who made me sign a paper. I did not know it was the contract. I told them I wanted to play for Delhi and not Bangalore. Lalit Modi called me and threatened to end my career.”
Praveen Kumar
Praveen Kumar also said that Marais Erasmus, a seasoned official, is a bad employee in the same interview. He continued, saying:
“He is a pathetic umpire. His decisions are horrible; he gives out when it is not out and gives not out when it is out. We were playing a Test match in Nottingham. I had bowled a lot of overs. Kevin Pietersen was hit on the pads off my bowling, and it was plumb in front. Erasmus adjudged it not out. I told him, ‘Tu andha vandha hai kya?’ (Are you blind or what?).”
Praveen Kumar
In 2018, Praveen Kumar declared his retirement following his unsold bid in the IPL auction. He continues to play in retired players’ T20 competitions.
“Pakistani players are liars” – Praveen Kumar slams Pakistani cricketers
According to Praveen Kumar, the majority of cricket players from Pakistan like flaunting their skills. He admitted that most Pakistani players are liars, even if he is close friends with a couple of them.
“Pakistani players are liars,” Kumar added. “They pretend to be something they are not. They are show-offs. However, I have a few friends over there, with Kamran Akmal being one of them.”
Praveen Kumar
Praveen Kumar played with the Manipal Tigers in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) of 2023. The team, guided by Harbhajan Singh, faced and defeated the Urbanrisers Hyderabad in the final match to claim the championship.