Tamil Nadu teen clocks 147 kmph, now eyes precision over pure pace

Seventeen-year-old R D Pranav Ragavendra isn’t letting his 147.3 kmph thunderbolt define him. The Chennai-born quick, recently picked for India’s Under-19 tour of England, knows pure pace turns heads — but it’s precision and staying power that wins careers.

Ragavendra’s fiery delivery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence was the fastest ever recorded by an Indian U-19 bowler. “I don’t want to be just about pace… I don’t even keep an eye on the speed gun.” teenager was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

At an age when most budding pacers dream of breaking the 150 kmph barrier, Ragavendra is already knocking on the door. Still, his focus is firmly on the fundamentals — accuracy, fitness, and building a sustainable career. “Everything from recovery to fitness drills is non-negotiable. I want to be ready not just for the U-19 World Cup but beyond,” he said.

Speed with substance

Pranav’s smooth, open-chested action and signature in-dipper make him a natural tearaway. But fast bowling wasn’t his first love. He was once a sprinter, clocking 13.76 seconds in the 100m before a twist of fate led him to cricket.

His father, E Rajendran, recalls the turning point: “After his younger brother was born, he felt isolated. A doctor suggested team sports to help him socialize, and that’s when cricket entered his life.”

Once in, he was all in. Last year, under the watchful eye of Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Foundation, the then-16-year-old hit 139 kmph. Within a year, he’s now consistently bowling in the 135-145 kmph range.

“He’s still developing and may gain more pace, but the key is control,” said M Senthilnathan, head coach at the MRF academy. “He’s the quickest of his age group in India, and we need to nurture, not overburden, him.”

A state’s hope, a nation’s prospect

Tamil Nadu, traditionally short on express pacers, is banking on talents like Pranav and fellow speedster D Deepesh, who also crosses the 140 kmph mark. The duo is being mentored by former Team India trainer Ramji Srinivasan, who is putting them through a structured athlete development program.

“Pranav is a long-term investment. We’ve seen too many quicks fall prey to injuries due to poor planning. He needs to be built ground-up—with a solid core, a custom training model, and a carefully tracked recovery regimen,” Ramji said.

He cites cautionary tales: Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and even Umran Malik, all of whom struggled with injuries early on. “Young athletes aren’t finished products. Patience is key.”

For now, India has a new tearaway with not just a quick arm, but also a mature head. If nurtured right, Ragavendra might not just cross 150 kmph — but do it with control, rhythm, and the ability to last.