IPL has been a wonderful platform for players who dream to play cricket. Players are no longer required to represent the nation to take care of their families and finances. The IPL helps them care of that aspect wonderfully well. IPL’s tagline itself resonates strongly with this fact. It says, “Where Talent Meets Opportunity”. There have been plenty of wonderful stories about how IPL has shaped the lives of hundreds of cricketers.
StumpsandBails brings to you 5 such inspirational stories of IPL cricketers:
#5 Mohammad Siraj
Mohammad Siraj’s rise in international cricket is a great fairytale. Siraj has come up the ranks from a very humble background. His family could hardly meet ends but Siraj wanted to be a cricketer. His (late) father, an auto-rickshaw driver believed in his son’s dreams. Siraj and his family’s fortunes changed when SRH picked him up in the 2017 IPL auctions for INR 2.6 crores. He is currently one of the leading pacers in the country. His rise has been phenomenal.
#4 Chetan Sakariya
Chetan Sakariya’s smile hides immense pain and grief. His younger brother had committed suicide but his family refused to share this news with Chetan as he was busy playing SMAT. The family didn’t want him to lose his primary focus. RR picked Sakariya in 2021 auctions for INR 1.2 crores. This price tag changed his and his family’s fortunes. Sakariya family has faced a lot in life. Their hope and dream journey has just started.
#3 Pandya Brothers
There is a famous story of how the Pandya brothers survived the whole day on a single plate of noodles that cost Rs. 5 during their earlier playing days. Their fortunes soon changed when MI acquired Hardik Pandya for INR 10 lakhs in 2015 IPL auctions. Krunal Pandya went one step better and was acquired for INR 2 crores in 2016 IPL auctions. The brothers now collectively earn INR 22 crores.
#2 Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal was one of India’s stars in the U-19 World Cup in 2020. He even became the youngest double centurion in list A cricket. Jaiswal’s backstory is an emotional rollercoaster. He was 4th eldest among 6 siblings. Jaiswal’s passion was to play cricket. Jaiswal couldn’t afford to eat daily. He stayed in tents for almost a year. Jaiswal sold panipuri to make ends meet. RR picked Jaiswal for INR 3.2 crores in 2020 auctions. This IPL salary changed his and family’s life forever.
#1 T. Natarajan
T. Natarajan is the eldest of 5 siblings in his family. He has done all sorts of odd jobs like selling newspapers and distributing milk to help his family. Natarajan kept playing tennis ball cricket even at the age of 20. His X-factor was his Yorker. His life changed completely when Punjab Kings bought him for a whopping INR 3 crores. SRH invested faith in him in IPL 2020. Natarajan since then has gone on to represent India in all 3 formats.
