Nosthush Kenjige Bio
Nosthusha Pradeep Kenjige, known professionally as Nosthush Kenjige, is an American professional cricketer who represents the United States national cricket team and plays domestic franchise cricket for MI New York in Major League Cricket. A left-handed batsman and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, he is regarded as a dependable all-rounder in American cricket. He has been a consistent presence in the U.S. setup since 2017 and has built a reputation as a wicket-taking bowler in limited-overs formats.
Born in Auburn, Alabama, Kenjige spent much of his childhood in India before returning to the United States in 2015. He balances his playing career with a career as a biomedical engineer based in New York. His journey from school cricket in South India to the international stage reflects the growing depth of American cricket and the contributions of players with overseas developmental experience.
Early Life and Background
Nosthusha Pradeep Kenjige was born on March 2, 1991, in Auburn, Alabama, in the United States. His father worked as an agricultural researcher at Tuskegee University, where the family was based during his earliest years. When Kenjige was less than a year old, the family relocated to India, settling in the Chikkamagaluru District of Karnataka, where his father established and managed a coffee farm. This dual upbringing between the United States and India shaped his early exposure to two distinct sporting cultures.
Kenjige received his schooling at The Lawrence School in Lovedale, a well-known residential school in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. He represented the school cricket team across multiple age categories, sharpening his skills as a left-arm spinner and a left-handed batter. He later attended Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru, where he played university-level cricket and continued to develop as an all-round cricketer.
Path to Cricket
Kenjige’s early competitive cricket came through school and university teams in India, where the structure of the game allowed him to refine his slow left-arm orthodox bowling. Playing in age-group and college fixtures gave him a foundation in tactical bowling, particularly in exploiting spin-friendly conditions. His performances in these settings laid the groundwork for a transition into higher-level competition.
After returning to the United States in 2015, Kenjige initially settled in Virginia before moving to New York, where he took up a professional role as a biomedical engineer. He continued playing club and league cricket, and his form quickly attracted the attention of national selectors. By 2017, his consistent performances in domestic competitions earned him a call-up to the U.S. national side, marking the start of his international career.
Nosthush Kenjige Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Kenjige made his senior international debut for the United States in May 2017 at the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Uganda. The event served as a competitive platform for Associate nations, and his selection reflected his growing stature in U.S. cricket. He followed this with a place in the U.S. squad for the 2017–18 Regional Super50 tournament in the West Indies, where he made his List A debut against the Leeward Islands on January 31, 2018.
His breakthrough moment arrived in August 2018, when he was named in the United States squad for the ICC World Twenty20 Americas Qualifier in Morrisville, North Carolina. Operating as a frontline spinner, Kenjige finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with twelve dismissals in six matches. This performance established him as a key figure in the U.S. bowling attack and drew wider recognition for his control and consistency.
One Day International Breakthrough (2019–2023)
In 2019, Kenjige was part of a group of twelve players who signed a three-month central contract with USA Cricket, a milestone that reflected the formalization of the national setup. He was later named in the U.S. squad for the 2019 United Arab Emirates Tri-Nation Series, where he made his One Day International debut against the United Arab Emirates on December 8, 2019, becoming the 28th player to earn an ODI cap for the United States.
From 2019 onward, Kenjige became a regular in the U.S. ODI side, contributing with both bat and ball across bilateral series and ICC events. He played a role in the United States’ push toward gaining ODI status and was part of the squad for the 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division Two in Namibia. Over time, he accumulated 61 ODI matches, taking 69 wickets at an average of 30.36, with a best bowling return of 5/11. He also contributed 28 catches in the field.
Franchise and T20I Era (2021–Present)
In June 2021, Kenjige was selected in the players’ draft for the inaugural Minor League Cricket tournament in the United States, becoming one of the faces of the league’s early seasons. He represented the Dallas Mustangs from 2021 to 2023 before joining MI New York in Major League Cricket in 2023. His move to MI New York placed him alongside some of the most experienced T20 cricketers in the franchise system.
Kenjige also represented MI Emirates in 2024 and is currently part of the Michigan Cricket Stars from 2024 onward. In April 2024, he made his Twenty20 International debut for the United States against Canada, becoming the 30th player to earn a T20I cap. Across 24 T20I matches, he has taken 22 wickets at an average of 25.18, with a best of 3/21. In January 2026, he was named in the United States squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, a landmark selection in his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kenjige is best known for his accuracy as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, with a focus on tight lines, subtle variations in flight, and disciplined stump-to-stump bowling. He is particularly effective in the middle overs, where he can apply pressure and create wicket-taking opportunities against set batters. As a lower-order left-handed batsman, he provides useful runs and is capable of rotating the strike in pressure situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Kenjige’s career was his performance as the leading wicket-taker at the 2018 ICC World Twenty20 Americas Qualifier, where his twelve wickets helped the United States advance. He also marked his name in the record books with a best ODI bowling return of 5/11, a five-wicket haul that remains a career highlight. His inclusion in the 2026 T20 World Cup squad further cements his place in the modern era of American cricket.
Nosthush Kenjige Career Wins
Although Kenjige has not yet won a major ICC title, his career is marked by consistent wicket-taking returns across formats and a series of team achievements at the Associate level. He has been a central figure in the United States’ rise through ICC qualifying pathways since 2017.
ODI and List A Highlights
In One Day Internationals, Kenjige has taken 69 wickets across 61 matches, including one five-wicket haul and a best of 5/11. In List A cricket overall, he has 91 wickets from 82 matches, with a bowling average close to 30. His first major List A appearance came in the 2017–18 Regional Super50, and his ODI debut followed in December 2019 against the United Arab Emirates.
T20 and T20I Performances
In T20 Internationals, Kenjige has claimed 22 wickets from 24 matches, with a best of 3/21, while in overall T20 cricket he has 35 wickets from 37 matches. His T20I debut came in April 2024 against Canada, and he has since become a regular in the U.S. white-ball setup.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 61 | 69 | 5/11 | 30.36 |
| T20I | 24 | 22 | 3/21 | 25.18 |
| List A | 82 | 91 | 5/11 | 30.34 |
| T20 | 37 | 35 | 3/21 | 25.34 |
Nosthush Kenjige Family
Family Background and Cricket Lineage
Kenjige comes from a family with academic and agricultural roots. His father worked as an agricultural researcher at Tuskegee University in Alabama before relocating the family to Karnataka, India, to run a coffee farm. This international background has shaped Kenjige’s identity as a cricketer bridging American and Indian sporting traditions, though he does not come from a prominent cricketing dynasty.
Personal Life
Nosthush Kenjige resides in New York, where he works as a biomedical engineer alongside his professional cricket commitments. He continues to maintain ties to India through his family, and his cricketing journey reflects the transcontinental nature of his upbringing.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a defining year for Nosthush Kenjige in U.S. cricket. Having made his T20I debut in April 2024, he has continued to feature regularly in the United States white-ball setup, contributing as a frontline spinner in bilateral series. His role in the team has grown, with consistent middle-over wickets and improved economy rates marking his development as a T20 bowler.
In domestic franchise cricket, Kenjige has represented MI New York in Major League Cricket and the Michigan Cricket Stars in other domestic competitions. His performances have reflected the trust placed in him by franchise setups, particularly in spin-friendly conditions. The 2025 season has also positioned him as a senior member of the U.S. squad heading into the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Looking ahead, Kenjige’s experience as both a wicket-taking bowler and a stabilizing presence in the lower order makes him a vital asset for the United States. With central contracts and franchise opportunities on the rise, his 2025 form sets the stage for a high-profile 2026, where the T20 World Cup will be the centerpiece of his ambitions.
