The highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to kick off with a thrilling encounter between the 2019 finalists, England and New Zealand, at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Adding to the excitement, the Netherlands cricket team has qualified for the prestigious tournament, alongside Sri Lanka, following their impressive performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 held in Zimbabwe.

In preparation for the World Cup, the Dutch team has already arrived in India and embarked on a rigorous training camp. To fine-tune their skills, the Netherlands team sought assistance from local bowlers through an open application process.

Among the thousands of applications received, Lokesh Kumar, a delivery driver for Swiggy from Chennai, was selected as one of the four bowlers to join the Dutch team’s training program. His unexpected selection as a net bowler garnered attention and praise. The 29-year-old expressed his delight at being recognized for his cricketing abilities and has begun training with the Dutch squad.

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In addition to Lokesh Kumar, three other promising players were chosen to participate in the Netherlands’ preparation camp for the ODI World Cup 2023. Hemant Kumar, a left-arm pacer hailing from Churu, Rajasthan, holds the position of Assistant Administrative Officer at the Rajasthan High Court. He previously served as a net bowler for both the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2022 and the Rajasthan Royals in 2023.

Lokesh Kumar, a Swiggy delivery boy who has now joined the Netherlands as a net bowler, said, ‘Rohit Sharma is my idol; he has inspired me a lot to play cricket. I am a bowler, but I am a big fan of Rohit Sharma His batting and his simplicity.#RohitSharma𓃵 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/HOxo78JQOC

— AB (@XGIAshu) September 21, 2023

Rajamani Prasad, representing Telangana, is another notable addition to the Dutch camp. With prior cricketing experience, he was a member of the Hyderabad Cricket Association and currently serves as a net bowler for the Chennai Super Kings, the five-time champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Completing the quartet, Harsh Sharma, a talented left-arm orthodox spinner, hails from Haryana. His cricketing journey includes being part of the team that clinched victory at the North Zone Inter University Championship and securing the second position at the All India Inter University Championship. Harsh also participated in the RCB camp held in Mumbai in 2022, further enhancing his cricketing credentials.

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As the Netherlands team intensifies its preparations for the upcoming ODI World Cup, these local talents will play a crucial role in providing valuable training opportunities and sharpening the skills of the Dutch squad, ensuring they are well-prepared to compete on the world stage.