Australia’s legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne in the inaugural edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) proved that a franchise doesn’t need big players to win the trophy. Warner’s Rajasthan Royals (RR) was looked at as a squad that was the weakest on paper but ended up catching everyone by surprise. In the next edition, the league was shifted to South Africa and Warne found the perfect uncapped Indian left-arm fast bowler who he touted as the ‘player of the tournament’.
Azamgarh-born Kamran had humble beginnings. The son of a woodcutter was a tennis player whose fiery yorker to get the wicket of Justin Ontong in Rajasthan's warm-up game in April 2009 put him on Warne's radar.
Kamran’s IPL debut
The teenager had no first-class appearance and played tennis-ball cricket but his ability to generate pace over 140kmph impressed Warne. He made his IPL debut against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Newlands, Cape Town. He did not get a wicket but conceded 21 runs from the three overs he bowled against the likes of Robin Uthappa, Kevin Pietersen and Rahul Dravid.
Kamran keeps former Indian captain at bay
His best performance came a few days later against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In the middle overs, he got the wicket of Laxmi Shukla. Later, in the slog overs, he dismissed Sanjay Bangar. He was given the task to defend seven runs in the final over and Ganguly was on strike. He started with a wide. But he came back well and got Ganguly's wicket on the penultimate delivery. Ganguly departed for 30-ball 46.
On the final ball, Ishant Sharma was run in an attempt to take the second. While Kamran couldn’t win the game, he took it to the super over. He was given the super over as well where Chris Gayle hit him for three fours before getting out last ball. However, Yusuf Pathan took RR home with two sixes and as many fours.
Kamran’s IPL career ended in 2011
He played five games in the season. He took six wickets and his economy rate was 7.01 runs per over. In the next season, he played just three games. In the next IPL auction, he was picked by now-defunct Pune Warriors India (PWI). However, he got just one game where he conceded 47 runs from three overs. He didn’t play another IPL game.
Back to tennis ball cricket
Two years later, he made his First-Class debut not for any state team in India but in a Sri Lankan Premier League Tournament. He played just two games in the season and picked up wickets.
Since then, Kamran has continued to play tennis ball cricket. He makes an impact in tennis ball cricket not just as a bowler but as a batter as well. The left-handed batter's high score was an unbeaten 19 from three T20 innings but he smashes sixes at will in tennis ball cricket.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
IPL vs PSL: The huge difference in prize money of two prominent T20 leagues
Three franchises who have never won an IPL trophy despite playing all 16 seasons
All 7 records in CSK captain MS Dhoni's name: Thala's IPL career in numbers ahead of 17th season
