IPL’s big break for ‘Ranchi ka Gayle’ Robin Minz, father says ‘Dhoni told me if no one picks him we will’

“A CISF jawan came to me, hugged me saying, ‘Arrey Francis sir, aap toh crorepati ban gaye’ (You have become a millionaire),” Francis tells The Indian Express.

The Minz family has roots in Telgaon, a village in the tribal belt in Gumla district. Cricket is not the biggest sport in the region that has produced several world-class hockey players. The Lakra siblings Bimal, Birendra and Asunta are from Gumla.

Francis, too, was into sports, and it was his love for athletics that got him a job in the Army. After joining the armed forces, the family moved to Ranchi. It was here that Robin picked up cricket and like most kids in the 2000s, aspired to be like the city’s cult hero MS Dhoni.

Chanchal Bhattacharya, Dhoni’s childhood coach, would take Robin under his wings. The young boy would pick up wicket-keeping and was also soon hitting the ball out of the ground. “When Mahi made his India debut, there was only one cricket academy in Ranchi. Now there are 15. I am not exaggerating in saying that in Ranchi, wicket-keeping gloves are more in demand plus young cricketers like to have long hair,” says Chanchal.

Father Francis too has Dhoni story. “I had met Dhoni at the airport recently. He told me Francisji koi nahi lega toh hum le lenge. (If no one picks him, we will),” he says.

Robin trains at Sonnet Cricket Club in Ranchi under three coaches. Asif Haque, who works on his batting, compares him to West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle.

“We call him Ranchi ka Gayle. He is left-handed, well built, and hits big sixes. A new-age cricketer, who loves to take on the bowlers from ball one, believes in batting at a strike rate of 200,” says Asif.

“I and S P Gautam (former Bihar cricketer) work on his batting and try to convince him to play shots along the ground, but that’s a difficult task. But as Chanchal da says, he reminds him of a young Mahi, because he can bat anywhere from No 3 to No 7 like a floater.”

Chanchal agrees and offers his argument: “Cricketers in Ranchi relate to the Mahi of old, the one who had long hair, those big sixes.”

Like Robin, there was another wicketkeeper-batsman from Jharkhand, Kumar Kushagra, 19, who was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 7.20 crore at Tuesday’s auction. A couple of years ago, Mumbai Indians had signed Ishan Kishan, another wicketkeeper-batsman who honed his skills in Ranchi, for Rs 15.25 crore.

“After Dhoni, we have seen Ishan playing for India. This auction, Kushagra and Robin have made it big. All of them are wicketkeepers and dashers with the bat,” says Chanchal.

However, both coaches – Chanchal and Asif – want Robin to remember what Dhoni told him during a camp at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi. “Achha khelte ho, tik ke khelo (You are a good player, but spend time at the crease). Don’t throw your wicket, try and take a single after hitting a six, don’t try and hit six sixes in one over,” Asif recalls the conversation.

“He is a bit like young Mahi. He is fearless and loves to attack all the bowlers. He is more worried about how far he has hit a six than how much time he has spent at the crease. He has got his discipline from his father since he has been raised like this,” laughs Chanchal.

At Ranchi airport, Minz Sr has become an instant celebrity but stays grounded. “I will be here when he will fly to play in the IPL. I have a job and two daughters who are studying, and I want Robin to complete his graduation too,” says Francis.

The father says he has taught Robin what he learnt at 9 Bihar Regiment. “I have taught him imaandaari (honesty) and wafadari (loyalty). I hope he stays grounded, chases his dream, gives his 100 per cent and keeps working hard. At 9 Bihar Regiment, our war cry is ‘Karam hi dharam hai’ (Work is worship). I have told him to keep this in mind,” the proud father says.