INTERVIEW
Follow UsMoney Grewal might sound like the name of an upcoming Punjabi rapper, but Delhi’s emerging pace sensation says that his name has nothing to do with the music industry at all, but sweet chin music is what he himself specialises, with firey bouncers.
The 23-year-old, who plied his trade for the Central Delhi Kings in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2024, started his cricket career in Adarsh Nagar, Delhi.
Humble beginnings
“I was initially interested, and my father made me join a club. I started playing in local leagues and giving trials. I was 13 or 14 in 2013-14,” the pace bowler said talking about his initiation to the game in Shalimar Bagh.
Explaining how he had to wait for a long time to make his Delhi debut, Grewal said, “I gave trials for U16 and U17. I got selected for U-19 in 2019, but then COVID came, and therefore, I started trying for U-25 and could not get selected for the first two years.”
Dealing with early failures
It is hard not to get picked for one year, but struggling to make it to the state side for three years in a row takes a toll on anyone, no matter how hard-built they claim to be. Money was no different, but he had people around him to motivate him.
“It was thanks to the people around me at that time [that I managed to deal with frustration]. They helped me. Self-belief is obviously necessary, but it also depends on the people around you in tough times. Those people gave me the confidence that I am good and I can play for the state,” said the bowler who picked up 8 wickets in the DPL.
CK Nayudu Trophy 2023-24: Breakout tournament
After facing failures in his initial days in breaking through to the Delhi team in age-group cricket, Money finally made his debut for the state’s U-23 team during the later phase of the CK Nayudu Trophy 2023-24.
Money made it count and picked up 22 wickets in just four games, becoming the highest wicket-taker for his side. The tournament spurred a lot of good things for the Delhi lad.
“In the last match, I took eight wickets. It was the same game in which selectors from the junior selection committee came, and they recommended my name for the emerging players list to the National Cricket Academy (NCA),” remembered Grewal.
Time as a net bowler for Australia, RCB and Delhi Capitals
Once at the NCA, he impressed a lot of people and got a chance to be a net bowler for the Australian team during the ODI World Cup 2023. And this took him to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as a net bowler.
“I was bowling to the Australian team in the nets during the World Cup, and Andy Flower saw me there. He took my number and called me. My name was there in the auction list as well,” said the pacer who clocks over 140 kmph regularly.
“But after I wasn’t picked, he called me again and said that I would be travelling with the team as a net bowler.”
Learnings from working as a net bowler in the IPL
Not only RCB, Grewal had also been part of the Delhi Capitals setup in a similar capacity. Talking about his learnings from being around established players, Grewal said, “I watched the work ethics of Virat Bhaiya (Virat Kohli) and DK Bhaiya (Dinesh Karthik). They practise as if they are playing a match, and that was the best learning for me to not waste any opportunity to practise.”
“Delhi Capitals was my first time being around an IPL team as a net player. I got in touch with the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting,” he added.
Biggest takeaways from DPL
It is the first season of DPL, and Grewal feels that the youth of Delhi could not have asked for anything better. “The most important thing is the exposure,” he said about the biggest takeaway from the league.
“I travelled with RCB during the IPL as a net bowler and the kind of excitement I felt there is the same here. Playing in front of a crowd and under lights is altogether a great experience,” added the express pacer.
“It is our national capital’s league, so selectors and scouts are obviously watching, and hence, it is important to perform here.”
Family support
Grewal could not complete his education due to his father losing his job during COVID. But all he has for his father is praise.
“My father helped me a lot during Covid when I was unable to complete my college. He did not let me feel the pain of his employment. His only wish is for me to play for India.”
Though his father wishes only to see him play for India, Grewal has set a higher bar.
“Ishant Bhaiya (Ishant Sharma) is my inspiration and he was the one who played a hundred Tests. I want to emulate him,” he said.
Getting back to his name, Grewal finally revealed, “I am named after my grandfather. He was also called Money at home as a child. My father named me after him.”
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