Not only has the Indian Premier League transformed cricket, but it has also changed people’s lives. For some, their magic wand was a cricket bat and they travelled through dusty village lanes instead of diamonds. These are the ace cricketers who went rags to riches.
The Indian Premier League brought wealth to countless lives, but it has also validated dreams and given people hope that they can rise from humble beginnings to the global arena. This is not just a tale of wealth; it’s also a tale of perseverance, a skill developed in the spotlight, and regular boys changing their lives, one lucky yorker and one bold six at a time.
Here are three players whose lives have drastically altered as a result of the most recent IPL Auction:
Ace cricketers who won at life:
3. Sameer Rizvi:
At the IPL auction, the Chennai Super Kings, who are known for their emphasis on veteran players, made headlines when they purchased 20-year-old Sameer Rizvi for an incredible 8.4 crores. With his explosive batting in the UP T20 League and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the undeveloped talent from Uttar Pradesh stunned the cricketing world.
During the UP T20 League, Rizvi’s incredible performance—a record-breaking 455 runs in just nine T20 innings—sparked a fierce bidding war. CSK, who are renowned for their cautious methods, decided to take a big risk by replacing the seasoned Ambati Rayudu with this raw gem full of promise. Rizvi’s life has completely changed as a result of CSK’s move, and he is now determined to repay their faith in him.
The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association’s (UPCA) cricketers competed in the UPT20 domestic T20 league. Meerut-born Rizvi played for the Kanpur Superstars and recorded the fastest hundred of the match.
Against the Gorakhpur Lions, Rizvi amassed an incredible 104 runs off of 49 balls. The rising star’s outstanding batting display in the UPT20 match won him praise from the crowd.
In the Men’s U-23 State A Trophy championship, Rizvi led Uttar Pradesh. In the Arun Jaitley Stadium final, Uttar Pradesh defeated Uttarakhand to win the trophy. Middle-order batsman Sameer Rizvi opened the scoring with a 50-ball 84, setting the tone for the team. Batting under pressure, he hit 10 fours and four sixes to help Uttar Pradesh finish with 356/7 on the board.
2. Kumar Kushagra:
At the IPL auction, the Delhi Capitals made a splash when they acquired Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Kushagra for an incredible INR 7.2 crores. Due to his undeniable talent and potential, the 20-year-old, who was initially valued at a modest INR 20 lakhs, sparked a fierce bidding frenzy.
Although Kushagra has obvious raw talent, consistency has proven to be a difficult companion. His less-than-stellar domestic performances in recent times cast doubt on the high price. However, the Delhi Capitals have taken a daring risk by betting on his future and believing in his untapped potential.
They went overboard in their purchase of him because they needed an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman because Rishabh Pant was not going to be the man behind the stumps. The cricket community is excited to see if Kushagra can live up to this risk and become the superstar Delhi aspires to be.
When Kushagra hit 266 runs in a Ranji Trophy match for Jharkhand last year, he made headlines as the youngest player to ever score 250 in the competition.
Kushagra’s career in List A cricket has seen him score 700 runs at an incredible average of 46.66 runs. He scored an unbeaten 67 off 37 when batting at number six in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament earlier this year, which enabled Jharkhand to successfully chase down 355 against Maharashtra.
At last, GT gave up, and the Jharkhand batter was bought by Delhi Capitals for a cool Rs 7.2 crore. He now becomes a member of Delhi’s group of wicketkeepers, who hope to challenge for the title this year, including South African Tristan Stubbs and DC captain Rishabh Pant.
1. Shubham Dubey:
In a fantastical turn of events, 29-year-old uncapped Vidarbha batsman Shubham Dubey was acquired by the Rajasthan Royals for an astounding 5.8 crore rupees. This enormous price, which was nearly thirty times his base salary, was an incredible compensation for years of unrelenting labour on the home circuit.
Dubey had been waiting for his chance, quietly simmering. The spark he needed came from his explosive 58 off just 20 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which propelled Vidarbha’s record chase.
This, along with his relentless streak, explosive strike rate, and steady run-scoring ability, lit up the auction floor. Given that they have struggled in the middle of the order the last two seasons, the Rajasthan Royals needed an Indian batsman in that spot.
Talking about his journey, Shubham said, “Like thousands of other children across the nation, my journey with cricket also began in a conventional way. I used to watch the Indian cricket team on television and play gully cricket in the neighbourhood when I was in school.”
He further added, “I used to get really excited to watch players like Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly back then. I then began playing locally with some of my pals. Even though my family didn’t have enough money to purchase a complete cricket set, my father was still able to get me one. Then, a friend of my uncle’s advised me to join a club called ‘Advocate XI,’ which provides free instruction to gifted young children whose parents are unable to pay for it.”
So, this was all about the top ace cricketers. Also read, All you need to know about Phuket’s famous Muay Thai sport.
