Chandigarh to Lord's: Abhay spins his way into the big league

Indian Express

2 days ago

Written by Gracy Singh
Abhay Tipnis, who spent his school years at Lawrence School, Sanawar, and Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, and honed his game at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali, is quietly weaving his cricketing journey across domestic and international grounds — one net session at a time. The Madhya Pradesh-born left-arm spinner, deeply connected to Chandigarh and Punjab through his training and early cricket, recently found himself bowling to legends at one of the sport's most iconic venues: Lord's.
'I've been actively involved in the training sessions for both India and England during the ongoing Test match at Lord's,' Tipnis told The Indian Express. 'I've bowled to some of the best — Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant — and even to top England batters. They asked me to bowl like Jadeja,' he adds with a grin, recalling the thrill of imitating his idol Ravindra Jadeja for England's batsmen.
Cricket came early to Abhay. 'I used to watch my father, Rajiv Tipnis, practise regularly. That's what hooked me to the game early on,' he says. His maternal grandfather, Dr Harish Singh Dhillon, former headmaster of both YPS Mohali and Patiala as well as Lawrence School, Sanawar, was another major influence. 'He had a very positive impact on me. He was always supportive of both my sports and academic interests, and more importantly, he inspired thousands of children as an educator. He also instilled a strong value system in me, which continues to guide me on and off the field.'
His formative years in schools known for their strong sporting culture and his stints with the Punjab U-14 and U-16 teams, playing alongside future stars like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, cemented his bond with the region. 'I've spent most of my vacations in Chandigarh, especially training at the PCA stadium in Mohali,' he recalls. 'That place shaped me. It feels like home.'
Tipnis is upbeat about cricket infrastructure in the Tricity. 'It's great that Chandigarh has its own cricket association, the UTCA. It really helps young aspirants shape their journey in the sport. There's a lot of untapped potential here that deserves more attention and exploration,' he says, underscoring the importance of grassroots systems in building the next generation of cricketers.
Tipnis's professional debut came in the prestigious C K Nayudu Trophy in 2019, where he represented Madhya Pradesh against Karnataka, announcing his arrival with a five-wicket haul. Since then, he has been part of net bowling camps for several IPL teams and now serves as an overseas professional for Manchester Cricket Club.
Looking ahead, his ambitions remain clear yet grounded. 'I see myself playing Test cricket for India as a left-arm spinner and a reliable all-rounder,' he says. Among those who've shaped his game, he counts Jadeja, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, and Virat Kohli.
'They've all influenced my game in different ways. Gautam Gambhir, in particular, has been very supportive,' he adds, reflecting on the value of mentorship for young cricketers.
From the school fields of Punjab to the hallowed turf of Lord's, Tipnis's journey is a quiet testament to perseverance, early passion, and the ecosystems — family, school, and cricketing institutions — that make sporting dreams real.