Vivrant Sharma is the newest sensation within the Indian Premier League after SunRisers Hyderabad purchased him for Rs 2.6 crore – an enormous sum of cash for an uncapped cricketer. He is the fifth Jammu and Kashmir participant to function within the IPL 2023.
By Kingshuk Kusari: “We believe,” says Vivrant Sharma, the newest sensation within the Indian Premier League auctions, when requested about what’s particular about Jammu and Kashmir gamers. The 23-year-old was the costliest uncapped rookie within the IPL 2023 auctions, bagging a large sum of Rs 2.6 crore, 13 instances his authentic worth of Rs 20 lakh.
Jammu and Kashmir gamers have been in excessive demand within the Indian Premier League just lately. In truth, as many as 21 gamers registered within the public sale on December 23 in Kochi. Jammu and Kashmir has unearthed absolute gems within the latest previous. Abdul Samad has made his identify as a pure six-hitter, whereas Umran Malik has emerged because the quickest bowler India has ever produced in its cricketing historical past.
It is fascinating for a area the place from solely 4 gamers had ever bought an IPL contract until 2020!
— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) December 23, 2022
Overlooked and ignored over years, J&Ok is now the main target of scouting corporations, who’ve really helpful a number of names, earmarking them for greatness. For instance, Avinash Singh Manhas, who has not performed a single match in Indian home cricket, has been purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 60 lakh, outbidding Kolkata Knight Riders.
For Vivrant, it was all about somebody breaking the glass ceiling, which occurred with Abdul Samad and Umran Malik.
“Abdul Samad, Umran Malik and I started playing cricket together in Jammu, since when we were kids. After Samad and Umran played in the IPL, we internally believed that if they can play, we can too. So whenever the glass ceiling gets broken, players start believing in themselves,” Vivrant tells IndiaAt this time in an unique interview.
“The environment among J&K players is that the next IPL contract will be me, which happened in my case,” Vivrant additional provides.
It was not a simple journey for the 23-year-old cricketer, who noticed his brother fail to make it within the massive leagues. Vikrant, the elder brother needed to go away his ardour at 26 years of age and transfer to enterprise to help his household. He, nonetheless, didn’t fail to be there for his brother Vivrant who had proven potential from a younger age.
“I was not left-handed by birth, but my brother used to play left-handed and I started copying him and playing left-handed since class 6,” Vivrant reminisces.
“My brother used to play cricket at inter-university level and left cricket around the age of 26. He focused on business but remained at my side throughout my cricketing journey. He used to pick me, drop me during all my training and matches since I was a kid and he has always been my moral support,” the all-rounder says.
“His decision to promote me helped me a lot. He was so happy when I got the IPL bid from SRH. He could not get through to me on call because my phone got busy with so many calls. I spoke to him after 3-4 hours and we talked,” says Vivrant about sharing the information together with his brother.
Several cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir have earlier been signed on in numerous capacities, together with internet bowlers. Just like Umran Malik as soon as was, Vivrant’s profession additionally began as a internet bowler within the SRH aspect, after which he gave trials for nearly all of the IPL groups.
Knowing the within workings of the IPL franchise helped, and so did the truth that he had a fantastic home season personally.
“I had great trials at various franchises, almost all of them. My best trials were at CSK, KKR, MI and SRH so I had a little expectation that I was going to be picked up. But when the bidding war started, I got so tensed up, but it felt really good after the process was completed,” Vivrant says.
The cash in IPL has the power to alter mortals. An inflow of crores can alter way of life, method and selections in life. However, Vivrant stays unfazed, stating that cash isn’t probably the most defining a part of his life.
“Life is going to continue the same way. I don’t think that with money drastic changes happen. But what changes is your mindset. You tend to get more sincere, more focused. If money could change people, it would have done so for many. But the main thing is that, whatever you are doing, you should be happy from inside doing that,” Vivrant stated concerning the IPL bidding warfare.
Vivrant, Umran and Samad are set to play for the SunRisers Hyderabad within the Indian Premier League. Barring these three, IPL goes to accommodate Avinash Singh in Royal Challengers Bangalore and Yudhvir Singh Charak in Lucknow Super Giants. The younger weapons have all grown up on the banks of river Tawi, one which flows by Jammu. Tawi is claimed to be accountable for how Umran Malik gained his core power, coaching on the sandy banks of the river, which sculpted his physique.
RCB’s scouting & fielding coach Malolan Rangarajan stated – “Avinash Singh is similar action and pace to Umran Malik. He clicking 145-150 Kmph. He is from Jammu Kashmir. He is really worth for us”.
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) December 25, 2022
Asked about how it might really feel to play together with his mates within the IPL, Vivrant sounded elated.
“I spoke to Umran and Samad on the day of the auction. They were very happy for me. We have played together from start and hopefully, we will keep playing together in the future,” he chuckled.
IPL is a ruthless enterprise. You are a star sooner or later and no person within the subsequent. Ask Paul Valthaty or Swapnil Asnodkar, who may need a narrative or two to inform.
However, one can solely be looking forward to these Jammu and Kashmir boys, who appear to be carving a separate house for themselves, one thing that resonates with the identify Vivrant. In Hindi it means to face out from the gang.
“Vivrant means colourful and different from others. I am Jammu and Kashmir player and I hope to make it big in the IPL,” the 23-year-old concludes earlier than saying goodbye.
Edited By:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published On:
Dec 26, 2022
