Ansh Mendwal

From a young age, Ansh Mendwal’s life was tethered to the cricket pitch, not just as a hobby, but as a silent promise to his father. His father had been a talented cricketer himself but was forced to step away because he lacked the necessary family support to pursue it professionally.

As a child, Ansh would sit quietly on the sidelines, observing every flick of the wrist and every delivery his father made, building an emotional connection to the sport that went beyond play.

This resolve led him to practice relentlessly on local grounds, choosing the hard path of discipline over shortcuts from the very beginning.

As he grew, his commitment was tested by the demands of a traditional education at Salwan Boys Sr. Sec. School in Karol Bagh. To maintain his edge, Ansh balanced a gruelling schedule of school, tuition, and intense practice, which eventually saw his attendance plummet to just 20 to 30 per cent.

His teachers and school authorities recognised his serious dedication and supported him, even after he represented Delhi at the School Nationals at age 13. But the pressure of choosing a career path loomed large.

This culminated in a high-stakes family meeting where his mother expressed deep concerns about academic stability. His father’s faith, however, was a fortress.

“Tu bas mehnat kar… main hoon na.”

From that point on, Ansh saw his father not just as a parent but as a best friend and mentor who monitored his every meal and training session

The Under-16 phase proved to be the major turning point of his young career. Under the structured coaching of Mr. Rohit Sharma, Ansh’s grit and performance in medical and fitness tests caught the eyes of selectors.

The news of his selection in the Delhi under 16 team came in a moment of cinematic irony: he was in the middle of a match, having nearly lost hope after not receiving an initial call, when his name finally appeared on the state list.

His father, who was watching from the pavilion, was so overcome with gratitude that he immediately ran to a temple to give thanks.

For Ansh, holding his first state jersey was an unparalleled peak. He couldn’t believe that his hard work had paid off. There was no better feeling than this

Inspired by Sachin Tendulkar, he chose jersey number 10. Not just as a number, but as a legacy. He has abided by it ever since, wearing it like a promise to chase greatness and uphold responsibility every single time he steps onto the field.

Yet the path was quickly marred by frustration. During that same Under-16 season, despite his hard-earned selection, external circumstances left him benched for five straight league matches.

The emotional toll of watching from the sidelines was heavy. But his father offered a simple, grounding perspective:

That lesson in patience served him well when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all facilities, forcing him to train in isolation and focus purely on mental resilience and home fitness.

Even when he faced a gruelling mental battle and self-doubt during Under-19 trials, made worse by a painful ankle injury, the dark thought crept in:

“Shayad main utna achha nahi hoon…”

He recovered by the February post pandemic, coming back with a renewed sense of purpose.

His perseverance led to a surreal opportunity: bowling in the nets to international stars like Shubman Gill and KL Rahul during the India-South Africa t20 series, World Cup 2023 and many more domestic tests that followed.

Initially paralysed by the pressure, Ansh eventually found his rhythm. And the ultimate validation came when one of the elite players told him:

“You’re such a great bowler.”

That encounter fundamentally changed his self-belief. It proved he could compete at the highest level.

Even when a severe lower back bone injury later forced him into a period of total rest and rehabilitation, he refused to let the physical pain or the doctors’ warnings break his spirit.

“Yeh bhi phase hai… yeh bhi nikal jayega.”

Ansh’s journey is defined by a refusal to be distracted. He views cricket as his sole identity and has no current plans to pursue a college degree. He holds his parents’ sacrifices in the highest regard:

“Apne mummy papa ko kabhi dhokha nahin de sakta… they are my greatest blessing.”

This unwavering discipline has not only shaped his own career but has ignited a fire in his family. His younger sister has now taken up cricket because she was inspired by his lifestyle.

For Ansh Mendwal, the dream of representing India remains the singular goal he continues to work toward relentlessly.

His father’s dream didn’t have the support it needed. Ansh has made sure his does. And he carries it not as a burden, but as the most natural thing in his life. Because this was never just his dream. It was always theirs.