IPL shortlist came out of the blue, says UAE spinner Meiyappan

In his own words, it has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride, so to speak, for the young Karthik Meiyappan. And it could quite possibly continue with the UAE player following in the footsteps of teammate Chirag Suri in becoming only the second cricketer to feature in the big world of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The IPL announced the Player Auction list on Thursday and the 20-year-old leg spinner is the only UAE player and one of three Associate players — the USA’s Ali Khan and Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane — to be part of the shortlist.

A total of 1114 cricketers had registered for the auction and the list was whittled down to 292 players after the eight franchises had submitted their shortlist of players.

Meiyappan, who has played six One Day Internationals, has his reserve price at Rs.20 lakh (Dh 100,000).

It has all come thick and fast for the UAE player, who not long ago, rubbed shoulders with Indian captain Virat Kohli, during his training stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore during last season’s IPL and most recently with the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle during the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

Meiyappan, who was the vice-captain during the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa last January, displayed his credentials by taking one for 21 to help Team Abu Dhabi finish third in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

And now, Meiyappan has his fingers crossed heading into the auction which will take place in Chennai, India, next Thursday.

“It feels great. It was out of nowhere, out of the blue, actually,” Meiyappan told the Khaleej Times on Friday.

“I didn’t expect for it to happen but over the past few months, it has been a roller-coaster ride. It started with the IPL where I was in the RCB development squad and then T10 and then now this,” he added.

Meiyappan revealed that he had been watching a movie with his parents when he was informed about him being in the shortlist.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting it. I was just watching a movie with my family and I then got a message from our manager saying that you have been shortlisted into the auction list. And it was good to see my parents being proud and happy when they heard the news. So, it was a very joyful moment for all of us,” said Meiyappan.

And it bodes well for the UAE players, who are now getting more opportunities to show their worth.

“Cricket in the UAE is growing a lot more and UAE cricketers are getting more opportunities, especially the youngsters. It has been improving and so many opportunities for the youngsters taking up the game. Things are changing and players are getting opportunities with contracts. So, it is good to see,” he felt.

A number of UAE players impressed during the just-concluded Abu Dhabi T10 League, while a few were called up by IPL squads to help them.

Meiyappan has also been able to glean a lot after having spent time with some of the top stars in international cricket.

“Us UAE youngsters, we barely get chances to rub shoulders with legends. In the Abu Dhabi T10, it was a great experience to learn from Kumar Sangakkara and Chris Gayle, and in the IPL, it was Virat Kohli. I made the most of my opportunity and tried to pick whatever I could. And just being around them and listening to whatever they say or the way they go about the game, you learn a lot. And I hope that I can take the values that I have learnt and put into my game and improve overall,” Meiyappan said.

And surely enough, we will know if he can continue his dream journey, next week.

“I will be glued to the TV on the 18th,” he gushed.

james@khaleejtimes.com

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• Abu Dhabi
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