Sandeep Lamichhane, 17, Becomes First Cricketer From Nepal to be Picked by an IPL Team

Lamichhane was picked by Delhi Daredevils for his base price of INR 20 Lakh and thus he became the first Nepali cricketer to be part of any IPL side.

New Delhi: Last year at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction we saw Mohammad Nabi become the first cricketer from Afghanistan to be picked for the lucrative T20 league. This year, at IPL 2018 auction, another player from ‘Associate Nation’ has become the first one to be picked from his country. And he is 17-year-old spinner Sandeep Lamichhane from Nepal.

Lamichhane was picked by Delhi Daredevils for his base price of INR 20 Lakh and thus he became the first Nepali cricketer to be part of any IPL side. The spinner, who is known for his leg-break googly, has played nine List A matches and has scalped 12 wickets. 

Lamichhane will have the opportunity to learn from former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting, who is the Delhi Daredevils coach. Besides him, the Nepalese cricketer will rub shoulders with players like Gautam Gambhir, Glen Maxwell, Colin Munro, Kagiso Rabada and Mohammad Shami.

The first Nepali player in the history of the Vivo IPL! It gives us great pleasure to welcome the 17-year-old leg-spinner @IamSandeep25 into the #DDSquad!#IPLAuction #DilDilli

— Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) January 28, 2018

Daredevils have Leggie Amit Mishra in their ranks and that will help Lamichhane learn tricks of the trade from him and develop his game as well. All in all, this is going t be a lifetime experience for the youngster.

Lamichhane, who was part of the Nepal squad during the 2016 U19 World Cup, picked 14 wickets from six matches and emerged as the second highest wicket-taker from the tournament. The teenager as already worked under former Australian captain Michael Clarke.