Nagpur Police Stop India’s Senior-most Member from Entering Team Hotel: ‘Arey Coach Hai Woh’

Nagpur Police Stop India’s Senior-most Member from Entering Team Hotel: Mr. Raghavendra Dwivedi, India's most seasoned member of support staff handpicked by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar back in 2011, soon became one of the most cherished figures of the team, halted by police personnel from entering the team hotel in Nagpur on Monday.

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The video that has since gone viral shows how Raghavendra, popularly known as Raghu, remained unrecognised by the two policemen stationed in front of the Radisson Blu hotel in Nagpur. The two officers appear to have mistaken Raghu for an intruder, preventing him from entering the hotel.

The video journalists recording the proceedings started shouting "Arey coach hai who. Team ke saath hai. Bus see utra hai. (He's a coach... member of the team. He just deboarded the bus)."

The ever-smiling Raghu, however, took the imbroglio in his stride and was later allowed access to the hotel after a short while.

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

Indispensable to the Indian cricket team's success, Raghu, as throwdown specialist, works unsung behind the scenes honing the team's batting power to the highest level.

A vital member of India's support staff, Raghu delivers accurate throwdowns to the batsmen under different match situations. His specialty is imitating fast bowlers, spinners, and bouncers, allowing players to acclimatise to different conditions and challenges they may encounter during an actual match.

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Raghu's journey began in humble beginnings. A cricketer himself; the Karnataka man had his dream shattered when a fracture in his hand brought an end to his professional playing career. But his love for the game steered him down a different path, one that would later see him taking on a major support role in the success of Indian cricket. Raghu's remarkable work ethic and the ability to throw down in excess of 150 Ks put him into the Karnataka state team. He soon became a favourite among players visiting the NCA, and on Tendulkar's recommendation, he became a regular member of India's support staff.

What distinguishes Raghu from other throwdown specialists is his delivery variations. From short balls to yorkers, he customizes his throwdowns according to each batsman's requirements to facilitate their development in shot selection and mental preparedness. His efforts have been integral in getting India’s top batsmen like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill ready to face some of the best bowlers in the world.

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