Published: Jan 29, 2018, 04:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 29, 2018, 04:30 PM (IST)
Before 2018 IPL Auction, Delhi Daredevils (DD) had sent a video sample of Sandeep Lamichhane’s bowling to head coach Ricky Ponting. He was thoroughly impressed by the youngster. Prior to this auction, DD had Lamichhane under their radar during the IPL 2016 auction. Then, Lamichhane was 16 years old. However, on Sunday, DD finally bought Lamichanne for his base price INR 20 lakhs. He became the first Nepal player to represent an IPL franchise.
Lamichanne has also played in Hong Kong T20 Blitz under the mentorship of Michael Clarke. Clarke invited the youngster to his academy in Sydney, and ensured he played for a Sydney-based club. During the match Down Under, Mark Taylor and Shane Warne were also impressed with the youngster.
In fact, Clarke had even tweeted on the occasion of Lamichhane being picked for IPL, “To the people of Nepal, you should be very proud of @IamSandeep25 he is little champion who wants to do his country proud. Cheer him on and enjoy the journey with him. God bless.”
To the people of Nepal, you should be very proud of @IamSandeep25 he is little champion who wants to do his country proud. Cheer him on and enjoy the journey with him. God bless
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) January 28, 2018
Lamichanne expressed his excitement on playing for an IPL franchise as well.“It will be a great honour to be associated with the IPL. I will try my best to perform in every match I play. I am not thinking about money at all. Getting an opportunity to play itself a big thing. And, to be the first Nepal player to represent in India is an amazing feeling,” he told Asian Age.
Lamichanne rose to prominence during the 2016 U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh. He scalped a fifer against Ireland and took Nepal to quarter-finals for the first time. At the moment, Lamichhane is preparing for World Cricket League Division 2 tournament in Namibia that begins from February 8.
