The Delhi grind and the lifeline: Mangesh Yadav’s early cricket journey

For every icon of the sport today, there was a person who believed in them when no one else would. Mangesh Yadav, who is all set to rumble for RCB in IPL 2026 had a similar beginning. He would play the local tennis ball tournaments before his uncle spotted him and realized the potential that he had. So he took him to Phool Chand Sharma, the man who carved the left-arm seamer into the talent he is today.

Talking on the latest episode of RCB Bold Diaries, Mangesh said about his childhood coach, “The one who has always played a role in my life - I was able to start and continue playing cricket all because of Phool Sir."”

Chand Sharma also opened up on how it all started with Mangesh. He said, “Mangesh was staying with someone in Delhi. He used to bowl well. He was a good player, so I asked him, “You bowl so well but have you eaten? You have no energy.”

Highlighting the tribulations of trying to sustain himself in Delhi, Mangesh said, “By then I had already spent five to six months in Delhi and I ate only one meal a day. Sometimes, we were managing on a diet of rice, mustard oil and salt, just to make ends meet. There were times when I would travel in the general compartment to save money. Many times, I got a seat but otherwise I had to travel standing for 15 or 16 hours standing or sit near the washroom, so it was quite a struggle.”

Eventually, realizing what Mangesh went through, Phool Chand Sharma decided to make a few fundamental changes for the youngster. He revealed, “Next day when he came in, I said that from now on, ‘You are no longer travelling back. You sit in my car and come with me to the hostel.’ So I brought him to my hostel. His journey began from there.”