India handed Anshul Kamboj his ODI debut in the third and final match against the West Indies at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Kamboj was brought into the Indian squad at short notice after fast bowler Prasidh Krishna was ruled out with a left hamstring injury suffered during the second ODI in Guwahati. The BCCI confirmed Kamboj as Krishna’s replacement on October 1.
Why was Anshul Kamboj called into Team India?
Kamboj was not originally part of India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series. At the time of the call-up, he was playing for India A against Australia A in a four-day match in Puducherry.
The Haryana pacer was pulled out of the India A game midway and travelled to join the senior squad. He had already impressed during the Australia A series, including a three-wicket haul in the first innings of the second unofficial Test.
The sudden move came after Krishna suffered his hamstring injury in Guwahati. Krishna bowled only five overs in the second ODI, conceding 45 runs and taking the wicket of Keacy Carty before leaving the field.
Anshul Kamboj gets ODI debut cap from Virat Kohli
Kamboj’s first ODI appearance came in the series finale in Mullanpur. Ahead of the match, veteran batter Virat Kohli handed him his ODI debut cap during the team huddle.
It was another important step in Kamboj’s international career after he had already made his Test debut for India during the 2025 tour of England.
Kamboj became one of the new faces to receive an opportunity during India’s ongoing series against the West Indies. His ODI debut also comes at a time when India are managing their fast-bowling resources with a busy international calendar ahead.
Who is Anshul Kamboj?
So, who is Anshul Kamboj? Born on December 6, 2000, in Karnal, Haryana, Kamboj is a right-handed batter and right-arm medium-fast bowler who can contribute as a bowling all-rounder.
The 25-year-old has developed through Haryana’s domestic cricket system and has represented India A as well as IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
His domestic breakthrough came with Haryana. During the 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he took 17 wickets in 10 matches and played a role in Haryana’s title-winning campaign.
One of the biggest moments of his domestic career came in the 2024 Ranji Trophy season when he took all 10 wickets in an innings against Kerala. That performance put his name among a small group of bowlers to achieve the feat in the tournament.
Anshul Kamboj stats
Before his ODI debut, Kamboj had built a solid List A record for Haryana.
He entered the India-West Indies ODI with 56 wickets from 35 List A matches at an average of 22.41, according to figures reported ahead of his debut. His best List A bowling figures were 4/22.
His record has been built largely on consistency rather than relying only on raw pace. Kamboj is known for bowling from a good height and extracting bounce from the surface, qualities that have helped him in domestic cricket.
Anshul Kamboj pace and bowling style
Anshul Kamboj pace has been one of the areas of interest around his rise through domestic cricket. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler who uses his height, hit-the-deck approach and variations in bounce to trouble batters.
Rather than being known solely as an express quick, Kamboj’s effectiveness has come from his ability to maintain disciplined lines and make use of the conditions. His recent performances for India A against Australia A further highlighted his ability to bowl effectively on challenging pitches.
Anshul Kamboj age and career journey
Born on December 6, 2000, Anshul Kamboj age is 25 years as of October 2026. He made his senior domestic debut for Haryana in 2022 and gradually moved into India A contention.
His IPL journey began with Mumbai Indians in 2024. He later moved to Chennai Super Kings and continued to develop as a seam-bowling all-rounder in the T20 format.
His international journey has now progressed from India A cricket to Test cricket and, with his appearance against West Indies, ODI cricket as well.
Anshul Kambhoj Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anshul Kamboj |
| Born | December 6, 2000 |
| Birthplace | Karnal, Haryana |
| Age | 25 years |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm medium-fast |
| Role | Bowling all-rounder |
| Domestic Team | Haryana |
| IPL Teams | Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings |
| ODI Debut | India vs West Indies, October 3, 2026 |
| List A Matches | 35 |
| List A Wickets | 56 |
| List A Bowling Average | 22.41 |
| Best List A Bowling | 4/22 |
The circumstances behind Kamboj’s ODI debut make the occasion particularly notable. He was in the middle of an India A assignment against Australia A when the call came from the senior team.
Within a short period, he went from playing a four-day match in Puducherry to joining India’s ODI squad in Chandigarh. The opportunity came because of an injury, but his domestic and India A performances had already established him as a player on the national selectors’ radar.
India entered the third ODI with a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The final game therefore provided an opportunity to test another fast-bowling option while also giving Kamboj his first chance in ODI cricket.
