The healing hands of Indian cricket: How Rajeev Kumar and his village gave 50 masseurs to Indian cricket
New Delhi: In 2002, when Rajeev Kumar arrived in Delhi, his only goal was to earn a stable income. Armed with a diploma in massage therapy from Jodhpur University, he took up his first job, earning just Rs 100 a month. Nearly a quarter of a century later, he has travelled the world alongside some of the greatest cricketers of his generation. But the journey was anything but easy. Before becoming one of Indian cricket's most trusted support staff members, Rajeev spent years travelling in crowded Delhi buses, walking miles to save money and wondering if his dream would ever become a reality."When I first came to Delhi, everything felt overwhelming," Rajeev tells TimesofIndia.com from Southampton, where he is working with Southern Brave."I travelled by bus, walked long distances and struggled for three to four years. At that time, I never imagined I would one day work with the Indian cricket team and travel the world."Those early years tested every ounce of his resolve.He did not have a mobile phone. Someone eventually bought him a Nokia 1100 because he could not afford one himself. His first earning was just Rs 100. Stable work remained elusive for almost five years but he refused to give up.Dr Choudhary introduced him to Ashish Nehra in 2004, who used to come to a clinic in Greater Kailash for his massage sessions. It opened the doors to the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) for Rajeev, who then spent nearly a decade with Delhi's Ranji Trophy team, quietly earning a reputation for his work ethic and professionalism.When the Indian Premier League (IPL) was launched in 2008, he joined the Delhi Daredevils from the inaugural season. Assignments in the ISL, Pro Kabaddi and hockey followed before the biggest break of his career arrived in 2016, when he became part of the Indian team during the T20 World Cup.What had once seemed impossible had become reality. Today, Rajeev measures success differently."Around 50 boys and girls from my village have entered this profession," he says proudly. "Some work in the IPL, some with Ranji teams, some in the Indian team, while others are in yoga and Ayurveda."For someone who once struggled to establish himself, becoming an inspiration back home means more than any medal."When people from my village meet me and say they are proud, it feels wonderful. They ask me to help more youngsters enter this profession. If I can create opportunities for them, it is a blessing."The man who opened every doorIf Rajeev credits one cricketer for transforming his career, it is Ashish Nehra.Their association began while Nehra was recovering from injuries. Rajeev would spend hours treating the left-arm pacer, often on the terrace of his house because Nehra preferred sessions under the sun."When he returned to the Indian team, he never forgot me," Rajeev says. "During the 2009 IPL in South Africa, he helped me get opportunities and later recommended me for other assignments. I will always be grateful."That loyalty became the foundation of a career that eventually took him into the Indian dressing room. It was Nehra who introduced Rajeev to former India captain MS Dhoni in 2015 and in a year's time, Rajeev was in the Indian men's team dressing room.Trusted by championsOver the next eight years, Rajeev worked alongside four Indian captains and witnessed some of the defining moments of modern Indian cricket. Each leader left a different impression.MS Dhoni's calmness immediately eased his nerves as a newcomer. The former captain regularly invited him for breakfast or dinner and ensured every member of the support staff felt valued."My first day bhai checked on me. He said: 'Tension mat lena Rajeev bhai. Bilkul chill hoke kaam karo. Kisi bhi tarah ki jaroorat ho mera kamra khula hai.' Mahi bhai took me out for dinner that day," he recalls.Virat Kohli impressed him with an obsession that bordered on relentless."I have known Virat since his Delhi days," Rajeev says. "His transformation has been unbelievable. He completely changed his lifestyle and inspired everyone around him."He still remembers Kohli playing through personal grief after the death of his father, a memory that continues to define the batter's mental strength in Rajeev's eyes."What a knock he played that day. All of us in that dressing room knew that we are witnessing something special, and it was just starting of a great career," he says."Under Virat, the Indian team's fitness went a notch above. He pushed everyone. For him fitness was everything. He was relentless. He worked so hard. I was surprised when he turned vegan, because the Virat I know used to love his food. I just want to tip my hat to the great man. What he did for Indian cricket is something that I can't explain in words," he adds.Then came Rohit Sharma, whose leadership style revolved around empathy."He speaks to every member of the support staff, asks about our families and always makes everyone feel included. Even in this year's IPL, he met and the first question he asked was about my family."Then came the young captain Shubman Gill, whose majestic form helped India draw the five-match Test series in England in 2025. It was also Rajeev's last series with the Indian team."Very sweet boy with a very good head on his shoulder. He has got the best of Mahi bhai, Virat, and Rohit. He has only shown glimpses of his excellent leadership skills. He will take Indian cricket to greater heights," says Rajeev.For Rajeev, those qualities mattered as much as tactical acumen.More than just cricketLife inside the Indian dressing room was built on relationships that extended beyond the boundary rope.During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rajeev's younger son fell seriously ill. What followed remains one of the most emotional chapters of his career."The entire Indian team stood by me," he says. "The players kept calling to ask about my family and even offered financial support. I can never forget that."Those gestures reinforced what he already believed about the group he served for years.Heartbreak before redemptionRajeev experienced cricket's cruelest moments from the closest quarters. He remembers the devastation after India's semifinal exit in the 2016 T20 World Cup. But nothing matched the silence inside the dressing room after the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad."Everyone was emotional. It was my first stint with the team and I felt so bad. Sabke chehre utre hue the (Everyone was so down) " he recalls."Then that night in Ahmedabad. Agar mera bas chale toh mai November 19 ko hata do (I want to eradicate memories of November 19). The dressing room was heartbroken."Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit after the defeat, he says, offered words of encouragement when the squad needed them most.Twelve months later came redemption.As South Africa closed in during the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rajeev admits he could do little except pray."When they needed around 30 runs towards the end, I was sitting quietly near the boundary praying for a miracle. Hey bhagwan, phir se nahi (Please god not again)."The miracle arrived. India became world champions."For me, it felt like years of hard work had finally been rewarded."The familiar faces on the massage tableAway from the spotlight, the dressing room had its lighter moments too.Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav were among the regular visitors seeking treatment, but Kuldeep stood out."We used to joke that Kuldeep deserved an award because he probably took the most massages," Rajeev says with a laugh.His bond with Rishabh Pant was equally special. When Pant had his horrific car accident, Rajeev rushed to a Hanuman temple with his family to pray."Looking at the accident, we feared the worst," he says. "Thankfully, he recovered. He is a wonderful person who always helps others."A journey worth celebratingRajeev Kumar's story is not merely about working alongside cricket's biggest stars.It is about a young man from a small village who arrived in Delhi with almost nothing, endured years of uncertainty, embraced education when sports science was still finding its feet in Indian cricket, and quietly became one of the most trusted figures behind the scenes.His hands helped players recover, but his own journey was built on resilience, humility and gratitude.From earning Rs 100 to celebrating a World Cup triumph on the biggest stage, Rajeev Kumar's greatest achievement may not be the medals he collected along the way. It is proving that even the quietest journeys can leave the loudest impact.
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