A different lens on young player development
India are in town — and, as ever, they have brought with them an abundance of world-class talent.
But why does India continue to produce so many skilful, confident and adaptable cricketers? Is it coaching? Culture? More time spent playing? A stronger focus on the basics? Or a combination of all those things?
In this episode of the Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock were joined by Raj Chaudhuri, founder of First Class Cricket Academy, a Sussex-based cricket academy working with young players across the region.
Raj is a former first-class cricketer in India and now coaches young cricketers in England. That gives him a fascinating perspective on the differences between cricket development in India and England.
The conversation explored Raj’s own journey, how young players are developed in both countries, the value of strong fundamentals, and First Class Cricket Academy’s philosophy of confidence through competence.
Raj Chaudhuri’s journey from India to coaching in England
Raj’s love of cricket began in India, where he grew up listening to cricket on the radio and watching players such as Sunil Gavaskar.
He described climbing onto a chair as a child and trying to look inside the radio, hoping he would somehow be able to see Eden Gardens.
Like many young players in India, Raj’s early cricket was not built around formal coaching. It started with street cricket, older players, competitive games and a need to find a way to survive.
He explained that he learned to bat because, if he got out too quickly, his evening would be spent fetching balls from drains for the older boys.
That early experience shaped a lot of Raj’s thinking as a coach.
Cricket, for him, was not just about being given opportunities. It was about earning them. It was about technique, temperament, toughness and a willingness to keep coming back.
The Indian cricket environment: competitive from a young age
One of the strongest themes in the conversation was the competitive nature of Raj’s early cricket environment.
At one early camp, around 150 young players arrived on the first day. After the first session, Raj said that number was quickly reduced to around 35 or 40.
The message was clear: selection was ruthless, and the environment was designed to identify players who could cope.
Later, Raj described attending an under-15 trial with around 350 players. By lunchtime, that group had been cut to 32. From the eventual squad, eight players went on to play first-class cricket and two went on to play for India.
That does not mean England should simply copy India.
But it does raise a useful question for parents, coaches and players:
Are young cricketers being challenged enough to develop the skills, resilience and independence they need later on?
That question links closely to the work we do through mental performance coaching for cricketers, where confidence, pressure, setbacks and self-trust are often central themes.
India and England: what can each system learn?
Raj was clear that both India and England have strengths.
He praised the structure, organisation and facilities within English cricket — the club system, the nets, the toilets, the general organisation and the multi-team structure.
In his view, those are things Indian cricket could benefit from.
But he also felt that English cricket could learn from India’s volume of practice, the emphasis on fundamentals and the expectation that young players spend serious time working on their game.
As Raj put it, confidence does not come from empty reassurance.
It comes from reaching a threshold level of competence and then repeating skills under different conditions.
That is a message that applies just as much to a young player at a Sussex cricket academy as it does to a player trying to progress through county, school or club cricket elsewhere in England.
Confidence through competence
One of First Class Cricket Academy’s key phrases is “confidence through competence.”
In simple terms, Raj’s point was that confidence grows when a player has done enough work to trust their game.
He used a clear batting example. If a player wakes up at any time of day and is asked their name, the answer is automatic. Raj believes cricket skills need to move towards the same kind of automatic response.
A half-volley has an answer.
A length ball has an answer.
A back-foot ball has an answer.
That does not happen by accident.
It comes through volume, repetition, different surfaces, different bowlers, different environments and enough practice for the player to build trust in their own game.
For young cricketers, this is a powerful message.
Confidence is not just something you wait to feel. It is something you build through preparation.
That is also the thinking behind our Play to Your Potential programme, which helps players understand how to access more of their ability when it matters.
Why fundamentals still matter
When asked what young cricketers in England can learn from watching India’s best players, Raj came back to one theme:
Fundamentals.
He spoke about players such as Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, explaining that while every batter has their own style, the fundamentals have to be strong.
Without fundamentals, a player cannot truly play the game.
This is a crucial point for young players watching modern cricket.
It is easy to see the sixes, ramp shots, reverse sweeps and highlights. But underneath the flair, the best players still have strong basics.
They can defend.
They can play straight.
They can adapt to the situation.
They can change gears.
They can survive good bowling.
For parents, this matters too. Helping a child learn from elite cricket does not mean just watching the most exciting shots. It means helping them notice what great players do before the big shot happens.
What young players can learn from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The conversation also touched on young Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Raj described him as having very strong fundamentals and explained that, although his style looks natural and exciting, it sits on top of a huge amount of volume.
But Raj was also clear that young players should not simply copy him.
Every player has their own style.
The lesson is not to bat exactly like Sooryavanshi. The lesson is to build strong fundamentals, do the work, and then allow your own game to emerge.
That is an important distinction.
Young players can be inspired by elite cricketers without trying to become a clone of them.
The danger of copying the highlights
One of the challenges for modern young players is that so much cricket is consumed through short-form highlights.
Players see the six.
They see the celebration.
They see the strike rate.
But they do not always see the years of technical work underneath.
Raj made the point that many young players can hit, but fewer can truly bat.
In other words, they may be able to clear the ropes, but struggle when the game demands patience, adaptability or a response to pressure.
This is where parents and coaches can help.
Instead of asking, “Did you see that shot?”, they can ask:
- What did the batter do before the big shot?
- How did they start their innings?
- How did they respond to dot balls?
- How did they play the good bowler?
- Did they change their game when the situation changed?
That turns watching cricket from entertainment into learning.
For more on this theme, you may also find our article on how parents can support young cricketers useful.
Practical takeaways for young cricketers
1. Build your fundamentals
Style is personal, but fundamentals matter. The best players all have strong foundations.
2. Do enough volume
Confidence grows when you have repeated skills often enough to trust them.
3. Learn to adapt
Great players are not one-dimensional. They can change tempo, respond to pressure and play the situation.
4. Watch cricket properly
Do not just watch the highlights. Study how elite players prepare, build an innings and respond to mistakes.
5. Smile when you get beaten
One of Raj’s favourite pieces of advice came from a senior player who told him to smile when a fast bowler beat him.
The point was not bravado.
It was about staying calm, not showing panic, and keeping the bowler thinking.
Confidence is built, not hoped for
Indian cricket has produced some of the most skilful and adaptable players in the world.
But the biggest lesson for young cricketers is not simply to copy Indian players.
It is to understand what sits beneath their success: strong fundamentals, serious practice, competitive environments, adaptability and a deep love for the game.
For young players in England, that is a powerful message.
Confidence is not built by pretending everything is fine.
It is built by doing the work, developing competence, and learning to trust your game when it matters most.
