Throwdown specialist and childhood friends who helped India star return after 2-year break
The confidence in Uttam Mohanty’s voice is unmistakable. As Jharkhand’s throwdown specialist, he doesn’t just observe Ishan Kishan’s shots—he knows them by sound alone. During the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final in Pune, when Kishan launched one high into the air, his teammates in the dugout tensed. “Catch na ho jaye,” they muttered nervously. But Mohanty knew better. “Yeh six hai,” he declared. The ball sailed over the boundary. His teammates stared in disbelief. How could he be so certain?“The sound from the bat rings in my ears,” Mohanty explains. “Itna practice kiye hai sath mein. The timing was so sweet—I knew it would go for six.” This is the world behind the spotlight, where invisible hands shape visible success. Three hours in nets For the past two seasons, Mohanty has been the constant presence in the adjacent nets whenever Kishan walks in. Every session comes with specific plans. The longest throwdown sessions stretch to three hours. Before every game, forty-five minutes minimum. In recent years, Kishan identified a gap in his game—his flat strokes …
