Who is the mentor and inspiration for IPL’s first ever Nepalese player?

Sandeep Lamichhane
Sandeep Lamichhane

Sabyasachi Bagchi: A 17 years old young kid from Nepal got chance to play in the IPL for Delhi Daredevils and made everyone stunned. Now his target is to ensure a place in the Delhi Daredevils final eleven. Xtratime.in spoke to Sandeep Lamichhane, the new sensation of Nepal cricket.

XT: From Nepal’s Narayangarh to Sydney to Delhi how was the trip?

Sandeep: Great experience as I came closer to cricketing legend Michael Clarke as I got plenty of experience so far as in this young age.

XT: It looks like you are already satisfied?

Sandeep: Not at all. I am very enthusiastic guy Clarke sir told me to control my emotions and I try to follow his words. So there is no question of being very satisfied. My main target is to be successful in every area of the game.

XT: How you met Michael Clarke?

Sandeep: Legends like Michael Clarke and Shahid Afridi came to play in the Hong Kong Twenty Blitz contest held in Hong Kong in 2016. There he saw me bowing in the nets. I bowled a flipper to get the wicket of Sahid Afridi after being hit for three consecutive sixes. He saw the match and called me and started talking.

XT: Then how did your relationship went forward?

Sandeep: He sent a letter to my house inviting me to play in Sydney’s Western Suburb’s District Cricket Club.It was unexpected as I never thought anything like that. He has taught many things. I can’t express how good he is.

XT: How you want to use this opportunity as you are the first ever Nepalese player to play in the IPL?

Sandeep: Many people don’t know that I had a talk with Delhi Daredevils team management. Before the auction, they organized a trial. They were also satisfied with my performance but now my target is to make place in the final eleven  and I have that confidence in me as I want to perform at the highest level.

XT: Feroz Shah Kotla is the home ground of Delhi where the spinners get extra help. Do you know that?

Sandeep: Of course I know. I talked over phone with Coach Ricky Ponting according to his suggestion I am trying to make leg-breaks, Google stronger. Nepal cricket team coach Raju Khadka is also helping me a lot.

XT: What do you want to learn from your idol Shane Warne?

Sandeep: I grew up from watching him bowl. I cannot say what to say if I have the opportunity to talk with him. But I would like to know how he would have bowled the batsmen on bouncy wickets like Australia, South Africa and England.

XT: Talk about Nepal’s cricket infrastructure?

Sandeep: There is only one cricket stadium in the country. Then you can understand how difficult it is to practice in this situation. But to grow up in mountainous environment, we have the courage to fight. So, I have made a place in the IPL.

XT: footballer’s like Bimal Gharti Magar, Kiran Kumar Limbu playing in India and now you are the only Nepalese cricketer to play in the IPL. Do you think Nepal getting ahead in sports?

Sandeep: It’s very good for our country. Our country did well in the sports. Many people do not know about that.