Jammu auto driver's son to Bihar cab driver's son, 3 Indian cricketers who made it big at IPL 2023 auctions
Vivrant Sharma (L) was signed by SRH at Rs 2.60 crore while Avinash Singh (R) was signed by RCB at Rs 60 lakh. Photo: Twitter
IPL auctions are considered to be an event where popular players, especially allrounders, are in huge demand. But prior to the months of the auction, franchises also keep a close eye on domestic young cricketers who are brilliant with the bat and ball. This is why we have seen some amazing talents in IPL, like Arshdeep Singh (PBKS) or Umran Malik (SRH).
Though the recently concluded IPL was a mini-auction, teams that wanted to add depth to their side went after young players.
More than the money the players got from the franchises, what's incredible is their story. Take a look at 3 Indian cricketers whose story of rags to riches is worth your average Bollywood biopic.
1. Vivrant Sharma is from Jammu and Kashmir. Yes, the same place from where India's new speedster Umran Malik comes from. Vivrant is a close friend of Umran Malik and cricketer Abdul Samad. The three of them had played domestic cricket together.
At the auctions, Vivrant emerged as the most expensive uncapped player. The 23-year-old was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Rs 2.6 crore; 13 times his original value of Rs 20 lakh.
Vivrant's journey to the IPL is extraordinary in the sense that he was supported by his brother Vikrant Sharma, who also played cricket but later moved to support the family by taking over the family business. Vivrant, in a chat with India Today, revealed how his brother sacrificed his own cricket to support him to continue with his cricket.
Jammu boy Vivrant Sharma joins SunRisers Hyderabad in IPL 2023 auction; brother shares journey
— Take One (@takeonedigital) December 23, 2022
Full Video: https://t.co/C9QlCDiPTX pic.twitter.com/GNKX2Cficy
Vivrant is also a left-handed batter, a trait he copied from his brother Vikrant. With Sunrisers Hyderabad, Vikrant will now ace the team with his fellow Jammu and Kashmir teammates, Abdul Samad and Umran Malik.
2. Avinash Singh: Avinash is another gem from Jammu and Kashmir. Son of an auto driver, Avinash had his hopes shattered when his name did not crop up at the auctions in the list of uncapped players. But towards the end, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders got into an intense war to pick Avinash.
He was finally signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore at Rs 60 lakh, three times his base price of Rs 20 lakh. For young Avinash, who started playing cricket professionally only 10 months ago, it was an emotional moment as he had to fight off several obstacles to make it to cricket.
#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/311pVmIafa
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) December 26, 2022
His father was against his cricket and had borrowed money from relatives to send him to Canada. But Avinash wanted to try his hand at cricket. In a chat with Indian Express after the auctions, Avinash's father told Avinash, "Chal cricket ka bhoot utaar aur Canada nikal (now, get done with this cricket fever and start packing for Canada)."
But when his name appeared towards the end of the auctions, and he finally made it to a team, Avinash was in tears.
The 24-year-old is a fiery pacer and clocks 145-150 kmph occasionally, just like Umran Malik.
3. Mukesh Kumar is another lad, from Bihar, who has made it extremely big in cricket within 3 months. Mukesh's father was a cab driver and he wanted Mukesh to clear the CRPF exam. However, Kumar failed the exams thrice and wanted to do something in cricket. For that, he moved to Kolkata too.
On October 2, he made his way to the India's ODI squad against South Africa. And in December, he bagged a contract of Rs 5.5 crore with the Delhi Capitals franchise.
For Kumar, the story is nothing short of his dream coming true because when he started cricket, he was malnourished. It was his coach, Ranadeb Bose, who spoke to the then CAB secretary Sourav Ganguly for his stay at Eden Gardens where his diet was taken care of.
Soon, Kumar made it to the Ranji team. At the IPL though, he was a net bowler of Delhi Capitals in 2021-22.
At the auctions, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals had started the bidding for Kumar, whose base price was Rs 20 lakh.He was ultimately signed by Delhi for Rs 5.5 crore.
IPL, over the years, has helped many domestic talents display their skills on a bigger stage, and eventually make it to the national team.