Arunkumar Unnikrishnan

Arunkumar Unnikrishnan
Nationality: Romania
Position: Batsman
Date of Birth: 1992-08-01 Age: 32

Bio

Career Stats

Fixtures

Teams

Arunkumar Unnikrishnan, born on 1st August 1992 in the cricket-loving state of Kerala, India, quickly found his calling amidst the lush greenery where gully cricket was often more of a lifestyle than a mere pastime. From his early days, Arunkumar wielded the bat with a natural flair that soon turned him from a promising youngster into a critical linchpin for his teams.

By the age of 16, Arunkumar was already making waves in the domestic circuit, earning accolades for his knack for scoring runs with an elegance that belied his years. His professional debut came in 2011 when he played for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy. There, he honed his skills against seasoned bowlers, displaying an uncanny ability to adapt his batting style, be it anchoring an innings or launching a counterattack when the situation demanded.

Arunkumar's batting prowess reached new heights during the 2015-16 season. He became known for his footwork against spin, something he polished playing on the dusty pitches of his homeland. Not to mention, his reflexive capability of swiftly changing gears in limited-overs formats became a talking point amongst pundits. His crowning achievement came in 2017, when he orchestrated one of domestic cricket's most memorable chases, remaining unbeaten on 134 in a high-pressure final, etching his name into Kerala cricket folklore.

While primarily a batsman, Arunkumar added a surprising string to his bow with his versatile bowling efforts. Initially, an occasional bowler, he famously turned games around with his surprising breakthroughs, particularly in shorter formats. His adaptability saw him intrigue national selectors and he narrowly missed an India call-up in 2018.

Unnikrishnan's career is peppered with riveting rivalries, none more storied than his encounters with neighboring Tamil Nadu. His duels with spin maestro Ravi Verma became legendary, embodying the intense South Indian cricket rivalry.

Arunkumar may have been an underdog in the wider cricket arena, but his story is one of perseverance and impact. The crowd at Wayanad still talks about the day when rain threatened to wash away the match, only for Unnikrishnan to save it with a brave, swashbuckling display that left many in awe. His legacy remains as one who played the game with an unyielding passion, firmly planting Kerala cricket on the map with each masterstroke.