In a situation that could have escalated but was managed smoothly, India‘s throwdown specialist Raghavendra Dwivedi, popularly known as Raghu, was briefly stopped by Nagpur police from entering the team’s hotel on Monday, February 3. The city is set to host the first ODI between India and England on Thursday.
The police initially mistook Raghu for a fan and denied him entry. However, Raghu, known for his ever-present smile, calmly explained his identity and was eventually allowed inside. The officers appeared apologetic upon realizing their mistake.
A video of the incident has since gone viral, showing video journalists on the scene informing the police that Raghu was indeed part of the Indian team and had exited a vehicle closely following the team bus carrying the players.
“Arey coach hai woh. Team ke saath hai. Gaadi se utra hai. (He’s a coach, and a member of the team. He just deboarded the vehicle),” the journalists were seen telling the police.
You can watch the video here:
GOAT Raghu of Indian cricket team was denied entry by Nagpur police 😂
Nagpur police guarding Rohit Sharma's boys too strictly 😎 pic.twitter.com/iko9TTD0hP
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) February 4, 2025
Raghu Has Been Associated with Team India Since 2011
In 2011, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar personally selected Raghu to assist him and the team’s batters with throwdowns. Renowned for his exceptional use of the sidearm, Raghu plays a crucial role in helping players adjust to fast bowling.
His expertise enables Indian batters to sharpen their hand-eye coordination and refine their shot selection against high-speed deliveries. Additionally, he helps improve their technique by consistently delivering challenging lines and lengths during training sessions.
India’s next assignment is an ODI series against England, following their dominant 4-1 victory over the same team in the recently concluded T20I series on Sunday, February 2. After that, they will travel to the UAE for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
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