IPL Auction 2018: Nepali PM Sher Bahadur Deuba expresses pride in Sandeep Lamichhane's selection

Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed happiness and pride in the selection of Sandeep Lamichhane, the country’s first cricketer to join the Indian Premier League. During the auctions, Lamicchane was picked by Delhi Daredevils.

CONGRATULATIONS to Sandeep Lamichhane (@IamSandeep25)for being the first Nepali to play #IPL.Not just me,but the entire nation is proud of you.All the best for your exciting journey ahead.Thank you @DelhiDaredevils for showing faith in him.Thank you everyone who helped him.

— Sher Bahadur Deuba (@PM_Nepal) January 28, 2018

Lamichhane made history when he became the first Nepali to be picked for the IPL. He was picked by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 20 lakh on the second day of the auction.

He has come in for high praise from former Australian captain Michael Clarke who believes the 17-year-old leg spinner from Nepal has the potential to make it big.

Clarke had said: “Sandeep has a lot of potential and is extremely passionate about the game.”

When he played for Clarke’s academy in Australia, he had said: “Sandeep is a fantastic young man who enjoys his cricket and is extremely passionate about the game It is a really exciting opportunity to have such a talented Nepalese cricketer travel this distance to come and test his skills and improve his game at my academy.”

He grew up watching Sachin Tendulkar and said he fantasised about bowling like Shane Warne. He told Sportskeeda: “Maybe God gifted that art to me and I worked on it. When I was young, I used to follow Shane Warne (on TV and his videos on a mobile phone) and fantasized about the way he bowls. I used to watch him bowl leg spin and googlies and practice them in the nets. I can bowl googlies very well, front flippers and yeah, the leg spinners. If my teammates want something else from me, I will work on that. So far, I am doing well. I have some good very variations up my sleeve.”

Lamichhane made his name during the 2016 U-19 World Cup when he ended up being the second highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps in six innings.

Now that he has been picked, Lamichhane has the potential not just to change his destiny but also that of Nepali cricket.