Nathu’s father Bharat Singh said he was initially unaware of his son's achievement. He said he was busy loading packets of wire on trolleys, when someone informed him.
20-year-old Nathu Singh, whose father is a factory worker in Jaipur, on Saturday was bought by IPL franchise Mumbai Indians at the auction - for a whooping Rs 3.2 crores.
Though a pace bowler hailed by greats like Rahul Dravid as the 'spark' in Indian cricket, Nathu Singh was a fairly unknown name in cricketing circles. But with his entry into the big league, Nathu Singh can now lift his family out of poverty.
"Now I will build a new house for my parents," an emotional Nathu said to Hindustan Times on Saturday, choking on his words.
Surprisingly, Nathu's base price was just Rs 10 lakhs - which means he was bought for 32 times that amount.
Nathu said he hopes to catch the eye of the national selectors during his stint with Mumbai Indians in IPL.
"My priority is to play well in IPL and prove my strength. IPL is the platform to enter the Indian team," he said.
Nathu’s father Bharat Singh said he was initially unaware of his son's achievement. He said he was busy loading packets of wire on trolleys, when someone informed him.
"I am very happy for his achievements. His hard work has paid off", Bharat Singh said, adding that his son even took up odd jobs to buy cricket kits.
Fortune played a factor in Nathu's selection. Rajasthan's first-choice bowler Pankaj Singh was injured on the eve of the first-round match of the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy. Nathu Singh then managed to generate impressive pace on a flat Jaipur track.
Nathu won matches for local teams as a boy, playing with the tennis ball. His speed and accuracy were well known. Local cricketers advised him to train with a leather ball and he joined an academy in Sikar.
"I was in eighth standard and around 12 years when I used to play with the tennis ball. I believe that tennis ball improves bowling because you have to put in a lot of shoulder in order to bowl quick," Nathu said.
Nathu was picked for the India 'A' squad to play the touring South Africans after a successful outing in the Ranji Trophy. Though he didn't do very well, Nathu bounced back in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali tournaments with rich hauls in most matches. Nathu also represented India 'B' in the Deodhar Trophy, impressing with pace and swing.
Chief coach at the MRF Pace Foundation, S Senthilnathan, feels Nathu Singh is a bright prospect for the country, with the the speed and control to succeed.
Mumbai Indians' Akash Ambani provided a rationale for Nathu's selection. "We raised the paddle late because we knew Nathu would go at a certain price. We didn’t have any apprehensions about him so we went ahead and picked him. Actually, we had budgeted more for him but are happy we got him at this price," he said.
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