Milind Kumar has made a significant impact in ODI cricket, leaving an indelible mark with his performances. The former Delhi and RCB batsman recently hit his maiden ODI century—a stunning 155 off just 110 balls. In only seven innings, he has accumulated 354 runs at an impressive average of 70. While he is now receiving much-deserved praise, his journey took a difficult turn after the Major League Cricket (MLC) season in July, which he describes as the "lowest point" in his 15-year professional career.
After joining the USA cricket setup with an impressive resume from the Indian domestic circuit—having topped the Ranji Trophy batting charts in 2018—Milind faced early struggles. His international debut did not go as planned, with underwhelming performances in the T20 World Cup and further struggles against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. His form continued to decline during the MLC, where he managed only 50 runs in seven innings while being shuffled around the batting order at Texas Super Kings.
Reflecting on that difficult period, Milind shared, "I was putting too much pressure on myself. I had high expectations, and each failure made me more critical of myself. After the MLC season, I contacted my coach Haresh Kumar in India and sent him videos of my dismissals. He suggested a few adjustments to my grip and bat lift."
He also credited the mental conditioning coach at Texas Super Kings for introducing him to meditation and breathing exercises, which he integrated into his pre-delivery stance. These techniques helped him quiet negative thoughts and focus on the game.
Milind’s form began to recover after the MLC, starting with a breezy half-century. Although he was selected for the ODI squad for the Netherlands tour, he was dropped from the T20I squad due to disappointing performances at No. 6, a position he wasn’t accustomed to. However, after captain Monank Patel insisted on promoting him to No. 4 in the ODI format, Milind responded with a maiden half-century and a quick 47, showcasing his potential on the international stage.
Since then, Milind has been in remarkable form. He attributes his resurgence to the faith shown in him, which has allowed him to play his natural game. In his short ODI career, Milind has exuded calmness at the crease, demonstrating his expertise in handling spin with solid fundamentals. His performances in the challenging batting conditions of the Netherlands were among the few standouts across all teams, as he skillfully navigated surfaces that tested every batsman.
In Namibia, Milind took his game to the next level. Before his 155, he played a crucial innings of 74 to guide the USA to victory with five overs to spare. Historically, the USA's middle order has struggled, often folding under pressure. Milind’s composed yet adaptable approach in ODIs has been the solution to their middle-over woes. His recent knocks have highlighted his versatility, especially his power-hitting ability, as he smashed 10 sixes in his last two innings—dispelling the notion that he wasn't suited for T20 cricket.
Milind Kumar's transformation from a struggling batsman to a dependable force in the USA middle order has been nothing short of extraordinary.