Ludhiana’s Adhiraj Singh Mangat earns Amritsar Surmeez spot in Sher-e-Punjab T20 league
By Sukhmander Bhangoo
Ludhiana (Punjab), October 3, 2026: Ludhiana’s young right-arm fast bowler Adhiraj Singh Mangat has been selected by Amritsar Surmeez for the 2026 Sher-e-Punjab T20 League, opening a new opportunity in his emerging cricket career.
A resident of Country Homes, Ludhiana, Adhiraj has progressed through Punjab’s age-group cricket system and has also trained at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. He has been described as a right-handed batter and right-arm fast bowler.
His selection comes after a series of milestones in age-group cricket, including a notable performance in the 2025-26 Cooch Behar Trophy.
Four wickets against Rajasthan
Representing Punjab in the Cooch Behar Trophy quarter-final against Rajasthan, Adhiraj claimed four wickets for 52 runs as Rajasthan were bowled out for 210 in their first innings. Punjab’s Rajveer Jasswal also took four wickets in the innings.
The performance was among Adhiraj’s notable outings in the tournament and added to his credentials as a developing fast bowler.
Trained at MRF Pace Foundation
A significant step in Adhiraj’s development came in 2024 when he was selected as a full-time trainee at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.
At the time, he was a Class 10 student at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana. The training programme provided him an opportunity to work on pace bowling, fitness, technique and other aspects of competitive cricket.
Adhiraj has subsequently progressed through Punjab’s age-group cricket structure, with his social-media profile indicating associations with Punjab U-16 and U-19 cricket.
Selected for BCCI U-19 Elite Camp
His progress continued in 2026 with his reported selection as a fast bowler for the BCCI U-19 Boys Elite Camp.
The selection added another milestone to a journey that has taken him from age-group cricket and specialist pace training to opportunities at higher levels of the game.
A multi-sport beginning
Cricket was not Adhiraj’s first sporting pursuit. He also competed in swimming during his younger years.
In 2019, he secured first place in the Sub-Junior Boys 50-metre Freestyle at the CISCE Regional Level Swimming Competition. He also won medals at swimming competitions in Ludhiana, including a silver in the 50-metre freestyle.
His early experience in swimming contributed to his development as a young athlete, particularly in areas such as fitness, stamina and body control.
Balancing academics and cricket
Adhiraj has also continued his education alongside competitive cricket. In 2024, he was a Class 10 student at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, and he has since continued his Class XII Medical studies while pursuing cricket at a competitive level.
He is the son of Ludhiana-based veterinary doctor Dr Ajaypal Singh Mangat and Vandana Mangat.
A new opportunity with Amritsar Surmeez
With his selection for Amritsar Surmeez, Adhiraj now gets an opportunity to compete in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League and gain exposure to senior-level T20 cricket.
His journey so far has included specialist pace training at the MRF Pace Foundation, appearances in Punjab’s age-group cricket, a four-wicket haul in the Cooch Behar Trophy and selection for the BCCI U-19 Elite Camp.
The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will now provide the young fast bowler another platform to develop his game and make an impression at a bigger level.
Adhiraj Singh Mangat: Key milestones
- 2019: Won the Sub-Junior Boys 50m Freestyle at the CISCE Regional Level Swimming Competition.
- 2024: Selected as a full-time trainee at the MRF Pace Foundation, Chennai.
- 2024 onwards: Continued through Punjab’s age-group cricket structure.
- 2025-26: Claimed 4/52 against Rajasthan in the Cooch Behar Trophy quarter-final.
- 2026: Selected for the BCCI U-19 Boys Elite Camp as a fast bowler.
- 2026: Selected by Amritsar Surmeez for the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League.