Tushar Raheja is one of Tamil Nadu’s most exciting emerging talents—an elegant yet explosive left-handed opener who can also double up as a wicketkeeper.
A key figure for IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, Raheja has topped the run charts across the last two seasons of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), making headlines with his stylish stroke-play and fearlessness at the crease.
In the 2025 season, he led Tiruppur Tamizhans to their maiden TNPL title, scoring 488 runs in nine innings at a staggering strike rate of 185.55. What sets Raheja apart is his versatility: once known primarily for his pace-hitting in the powerplay, he has now evolved into a complete batter.
His ability to take down elite spinners—most notably Varun Chakravarthy and R. Ashwin this season—is a testament to how quickly he’s matured as a player.
Despite cheekily deflecting questions about an IPL future, Raheja’s performances suggest he may not be far from a call-up. His game combines the elegance of a Yuvraj Singh with the brute power of Matthew Hayden—two of his self-confessed idols.
Interestingly, Raheja’s first love wasn’t cricket—it was tennis. “Tennis was my first love. I even convinced my parents and joined a tennis academy for a few months,” Raheja told in an interview. “And then came the 2007 T20 World Cup, which India won—that’s when I started playing cricket, around the age of seven.”
The 24-year-old made his domestic debut for Tamil Nadu in December 2024 in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. But it’s the TNPL where he’s truly made a name for himself—lighting up the tournament with innings like a 43-ball 79 against Chepauk Super Gillies and a blistering 65 off 39 balls to crush Dindigul Dragons in just 11.5 overs.
