IPL has been a turning point in the career of many youngsters. This is a platform which gives the right prooving ground with ample support in finances to the young stars. Unknown commodities of the game get the right exposure on this stage to open doors of success for them. IPL has transformed the lives of many such young cricketers. Some of them have groomed to play for the national side. Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya have been the find of the IPL, who have went a mile to wear the Indian jersey. Some International stars also got benefited from IPL, when they got to play for their national side on the basis of their defining performances in IPL. James Faulkner, Tabrez Shamsi and Glen Maxwell being the best examples. Akshdeep Nath
Read: IPL 2018 Full squads: Complete list of players after IPL auctions 2018.
Lucknow’s Akshdeep Nath great performances for Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy has been rewarding for the young batsmen. The 24 years old got picked for 1 crore rupees by Preity Zinta’s Kings XI Punjab which was five times higher than his base price of 20 lacs. Akshdeep was playing a blistering innings at a tournament in Chennai when the franchises indulged in bidding battle for acquiring him at ITC Gardenia, Bangalore. He played an innings of 120 runs on 80 balls to even better the grand celebration.
Akshdeep Nath is sold for 5 times his base price as Kings XI Punjab get him for INR 100 lacs. #KnightsOf2018 #KorboLorboJeetbo #IPLAuction
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) January 28, 2018
Akshdeep Nath talked to a leading newspaper and said that he was hopeful of getting more value than his base price, but not at all expecting the value to reach above crores. He said that Kings XI Punjab consists greatest of the game like Yuvraj Singh, R. Ashwin and mentor Virender Sehwag from whom ill get to learn so much. After playing Under 19 cricket for India, my batting position has slipped down the order which has brought down my performance. However, i later got a push up in the batting order that gave me an opportunity to prove and i played my natural game to better my performance. I will credit my father Deependra Nath, my coach Gopal Singh. And captain Suresh Raina for my improved performance from past two years.
The batsmen from Lucknow played five matches for UP in Ranji Trophy 2017-18. He scored 334 runs with 1 hundred and 3 half-centuries and top scored with 110 runs.
Akshdeep impressed in Syed Mustaq Ali T20 trophy. He played 9 matches and scored 241 runs. He top scored with 80 off 43 balls in a winning cause against Bengal.
“Im really proud of my son. UP team management identified the skills in him and gave more chances to play the matches. He needs to perform good in IPL which will pave way for his future. He may fulfill his dream of playing in the Indian team if he manages to impress in the IPL.,” said Akshdeep’s father, Deependra Nath.
“This is a great achievement for our LDA coaching centre. Akshdeep doesn’t leave any chance of playing a match when he is in Lucknow. This is the foremost reason of his success. He will leave a mark for Kings XI Punjab, playing in IPL,” said Akshdeep’s coach, Gopal Singh.
