Who is Nepal's cricket sensation Sandeep Lamichhane?
Sandeep Lamichhane scripted history when he became the first Nepali cricketer to bag an IPL contract in January. 2 months later, the 17-year-old was bought by the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for a fee of $5,000. With this, he became the first Nepali to bag a Caribbean Premier League contract. But who is this little-known cricketer who has taken the sport by storm?
He took a liking to cricket after living in India
Sandeep is a 17-year-old leg-spinner born in Syangja, Nepal. However, he got his first 'real' exposure to cricket, when he lived in India as his father worked with the Indian Railways. When he was about 10 years old, he moved back to Nepal but he left India with the love for cricket. He decided he would become a cricketer after watching Team India.
Learnt leg spin watching Shane Warne
Though Sandeep was a fan of the Indian cricket team, his true inspiration was Australian spin legend Shane Warne. Sandeep watched videos of the legendary leg-spinner and was inspired to take up the art.
U-19 World Cup was his grand stage
Sandeep's rise to prominence came during the 2016 Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh. He finished as the tournament's second highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps to his name, at an average of 17 and an economy of 4.67 in just six matches. He picked up a hat-trick against Ireland thus becoming the fifth bowler to bag a hat-trick in an U-19 World Cup.
Michael Clarke decided to mentor him
His performance in the Under-19 world cup drew the attention of Michael Clarke and he picked him up to play for Kowloon Cantons in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz. Clarke's then turned mentor to the young cricketer and invited him to Australia to play for his team Western Suburbs in the NSW Premier Cricket season. He even trained at Clarke's academy.
World Cup qualification is the dream
Sandeep is the first rising cricket star from Nepal. The 17-year-old now hopes to help his nation qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. With just two World Cup spots up for grabs, 10 nations including West Indies will fight it out at the ICC Qualifiers in Zimbabwe. His first assignment is to defeat the hosts.
