Nepal’s Lamichhane ready to step up for Daredevils
A key objective when Indian Premier League (IPL) was launched in 2008 was to unearth talent in the teams’ catchment areas, and help it grow in the environment of international stars.
That rule was flouted by franchises from the start as domestic talent came to the fore more by chance. But the world’s biggest T20 league is tapping into another catchment area.
Rashid Khan’s was a great human interest story, rising from strife-torn Afghanistan to be part of Sunrisers Hyderabad. He delivered for the 2016 champions, taking 17 wickets in 14 games .
Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane is now taking early steps in that direction. The 17-year-old has joined Delhi Daredevils ahead of IPL.
Lamichanne’s bowling heroics helped Nepal seal ODI status
NEWDELHI:
for the first time after a playoff win over Papua New Guinea in the World Cup Qualifier.
The youngster, who took a hat-trick against Ireland in the 2016 U-19 World Cup, acknowledges IPL will be a big step up from playing second-rung international teams.
“I’ll get to learn a lot. The difference (playing versus Associate teams and in IPL) is some deliveries those batsman can’t play these (pointing to the DD training group) guys can smash,” he said on Saturday.
It remains to be seen how many games Sandeep will get to play, but he knows what it will take. “He (DD captain Gautam Gamhir) is a kind of guy who backs youngsters. And if he believes in you, the trust will become stronger.”