Night sessions in Jaipur, Delhi’s different wickets: Behind KL Rahul fan Karan Lamba’s Ranji Trophy form

The three consecutive centuries have made Karan Lamba one of the early talking points of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.

But the Rajasthan batter’s story is less about the runs he has scored in recent weeks and more about the time he spent waiting for his turn.

For two seasons, he watched from the sidelines, knowing that talent alone would not earn him a place in the side. He needed to get better, find ways to challenge himself and, above all, keep believing that another opportunity would come.

In three matches so far, Lamba has amassed 447 runs, underlining his credentials and strengthening his place in the Rajasthan side.

Hailing from Hanumangarh, Lamba found his first cricketing inspiration much closer to home. It was his cousin, Abhimanyu Lamba, a former India under-19 fast bowler, who introduced him to the game. Abhimanyu, now settled in the United States, was someone the youngster admired and wanted to emulate.

“I started playing cricket after watching him. I used to admire him and draw inspiration from him,” Lamba told Sportstar.

That early inspiration gradually turned into a serious pursuit. But the road to establishing himself in Rajasthan’s senior team was not straightforward.

The two seasons without a Ranji Trophy appearance could easily have been a period of frustration. Instead, Lamba treated them as an opportunity to work on the aspects of his game that needed attention.

“It was difficult, but I had made up my mind to improve my game. I kept working hard and waited for my opportunity. I wanted to be prepared whenever I got a chance,” he said.

There was no guarantee of when that opportunity would arrive. So, Lamba concentrated on what he could control. He wanted to become a better batter, but also one who could adjust to different conditions rather than depend on familiar surfaces.

“I worked really hard during the off-season. I used to practise on different kinds of wickets. I felt that playing on different wickets would give me a different perspective and help me in the future. I put in a lot of effort during practice, and now I am getting the results,” he said.

His preparation went beyond the usual nets in Jaipur. Lamba travelled to Delhi to play matches and expose himself to different surfaces. He also arranged separate practice sessions for red-ball and white-ball cricket, while working on his strength and power through weight training.

The idea was to make his preparation as comprehensive as possible. With limited opportunities at the First-Class level, he could not afford to let his game stagnate.

“Whenever I got selected, I couldn’t perform well in those opportunities. I kept thinking about how I could put in more effort during practice so that I wouldn’t have to face the same situation again in the future. That’s how I have always looked at things,” the 21-year-old, said.

An important part of that process was the mental conditioning he received from Abhimanyu. Having someone in the family who understood the demands of competitive cricket gave Lamba a sounding board, particularly during the formative years.

“Mentally, he worked a lot with me. He helped me develop the right mindset and taught me to think ahead. He would also point out the negative thoughts I had and tell me to always think positively. That helped me a lot,” he said.

The two also spent considerable time working together at their academy in Jaipur. They would revisit the mistakes made during the previous season and work on correcting them. The sessions were not necessarily confined to conventional training hours.

The academy, which has floodlights, has given Lamba the freedom to practise whenever he finds time. Even after travelling, he tries to squeeze in a session at night.

“The biggest advantage is that I can practise whenever I want. We have floodlights at the academy. So, if I have time at night, even after travelling somewhere, I try to get in a practice session. Whenever I get time, I can work on my game. Having my own academy allows me to practise whenever I want,” he said.

For a young cricketer pursuing a career in the sport, family support can make a significant difference. Lamba’s father is a farmer, and the family has backed his ambitions throughout. There were no half-hearted attempts or suggestions that he should look for an easier path.

“My family has been completely supportive. They have always told me that whatever I choose to do, I should do it with all my heart. They have always said that I shouldn’t take things lightly. If I want to pursue something, I must give it my everything and work towards succeeding. I shouldn’t get into a comfort zone,” he said.

Among international cricketers, Lamba admires K.L. Rahul, particularly for his batting style. And while three successive hundreds have naturally raised expectations, he is wary of getting carried away by the early success.

The focus, he insists, remains on preparing for the next assignment and adapting to the conditions. With Himachal Pradesh next on the schedule in Dharamshala, he is already thinking about how best to approach the challenge.

“I am trying to adapt to the conditions through practice. We have a match against Himachal Pradesh coming up, so I am trying to prepare according to the conditions. I want to do well. I am not putting myself under too much pressure or thinking that I have to achieve this or that,” he said.

Faith, too, has been a constant through the difficult phases.

“I believe in God a lot. I try to remain positive and believe that everything will fall into place,” he added.

Three centuries have given Lamba the sort of start every domestic batter hopes for. But he knows better than to read too much into a good run of form.

The two seasons on the sidelines have taught him patience; the work he put in during that period has given him confidence. For now, he is simply keen to keep doing what brought him here — working on his game and making every opportunity count.

Published on Nov 01, 2026