Sandeep Lamichhane to play for Delhi Daredevils in IPL

KATHMANDU, Jan 28: Nepali cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane is to play for Delhi Daredevils in the 11th edition of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket competition.

The Delhi based club bought Lamichhane for IRS 2 million. Lamichhane also becomes the first Nepali cricketer to make it to the most attended cricket league in the world.

“The first Nepali player in the history of the VIVO IPL! It gives us great pleasure to welcome the 17-year old leg-spinner into the Delhi Daredevils squad,” tweeted Delhi Daredevils.

Lamichhane will be coached by former Australian Captain and World Cup winner Ricky Ponting and with the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Glen Maxwell, Colin Munro, Kagiso Rabada in the side.

Lamichhane was shortlisted in IPL auction among the 578 players. The auction was held in Bengaluru on January 27-28.

Sensational leg-spinner, the 17-year old was once compared with Australian legend ‘Shane Warne’, following his spell as the second highest wicket taker in the ICC U-19 World Cup held in Bangladesh in 2016, with 14 wickets with an average of 17.07 in 6 matches. His best figure 5 for 27 came against Ireland, where also he became the first Nepali cricketer to achieve such record in U-19 World Cup.