Rajneesh Dadar, a 23-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Jahangirpuri, New Delhi, claimed a match-defining 6 for 43 from 13.4 overs against Gujarat in the opening round of the Col C.K. Nayudu Trophy, helping Delhi U23 secure the first-innings lead in a rain-curtailed fixture at the St Stephen's College Ground. The performance marks a striking milestone for a player who, just a few years ago, was on the verge of abandoning the game entirely due to financial hardship at home.

A debut that almost never happened

Raised in the working-class neighbourhood of Jahangirpuri, Dadar first honed his skills playing tennis-ball cricket in local lanes before being spotted by coach Shekhar Sharma of Ravinder Cricket Academy. With his father the sole earner in a family of four or five children, the cost of cricket — fees, kit, tournament entries — quickly became an insurmountable hurdle.

Sharma stepped in entirely, paying for Dadar's academy fees, shoes, kit bags, and even facilitating his studies through open school. To preserve the youngster's dignity, the coach also gave him paid courier runs in the evenings, ensuring the support never felt like charity. 'He saw that I was a good boy who could do well in the game, and he helped me a lot in the beginning,' Dadar said.

Sharma recalled the moment Dadar first came to his attention: a senior academy player from the neighbourhood told him, 'Sir, there's a boy who's good at tennis. He's a very accurate bowler. No one beats him.' The coach was initially sceptical but invited Dadar to bowl in the nets. 'He was a very accurate bowler,' Sharma said. 'I thought, this boy is serious about cricket, as he would come on time, and then I started paying more attention to him.'

Years on the fringes before the DPL breakthrough

Despite regular four- and five-wicket hauls in local tournaments, Dadar remained a stand-by in Delhi's Under-16, Under-19, and Under-23 squads through multiple seasons. The turning point came via the Delhi Premier League (DPL). After a promising debut season with Central Delhi Kings — 11 wickets in nine games — he was acquired by Purani Dilli 6 for ₹19 lakh in Category C against a base price of ₹1 lakh.

He repaid that investment handsomely, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in the DPL's second edition with 19 wickets. In the most recent edition, he took 15 scalps, ranking sixth overall. 'DPL is the best league after IPL in India. I was picked for the state team because of the DPL. It's a very helpful thing for my career,' he said.

IPL exposure and lessons from Siraj

The DPL also opened an unexpected door into the Indian Premier League ecosystem. Delhi senior men's head coach Vijay Dahiya took Dadar to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) camp, and he subsequently travelled with the Gujarat Titans as a net bowler during IPL 2026. There, he trained alongside senior professionals including Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

'Siraj used to tell me to focus on my work ethic and my basics,' Dadar recalled. Sharma noted that training with established internationals helped Dadar realise he was not outclassed — a realisation that quietly transformed his self-belief.

Six top-order wickets and what they reveal

Against Gujarat in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy opener, all six of Dadar's victims were top-order batters — a detail Sharma highlighted as evidence of his accuracy and ability to target quality opposition. Dadar took the performance in measured stride: 'Obviously, I'm feeling good. The team has won and I've performed well. So I'm feeling good about it.'

He finished his first state season with 18 wickets in four matches, and ended the full campaign — spanning the C K Nayudu Trophy and State A Trophy — with 25 wickets in eight games. Dadar is also an emerging contributor with the bat; he struck a fifty on his state debut last season after his batting was developed almost by accident during Under-16 and Under-19 camps, when Sharma restricted his bowling to protect his energy and redirected him to batting instead.

The road ahead: Ranji Trophy and beyond

Dadar's immediate targets are unambiguous: cement his place in the Delhi Ranji Trophy side and, ultimately, represent India. 'My main goal is to play for India. Right now, I also want to do well in U23 matches and make my place in the Delhi Ranji Trophy team,' he said. Sharma shares that confidence: 'He will play for Delhi and hopefully for his country.'

With a strong start to the season and the mentorship structure firmly in place, Dadar's trajectory suggests the Col CK Nayudu Trophy six-for may be just the opening chapter of a much larger story.