Of goosebumps and pragmatism: Jagadeesan's life after CSK call

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) signed him for his base price of Rs. 20 Lakh, albeit in the dying moments of the IPL auction on Sunday.

Jagadeesan - a local uncapped talent -  wishes to "make the most of his stint" but remains pragmatic about his playing chances. 

Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper batsman Narayan Jagadeesan had to endure a 'night long anxiety' before Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finally signed him for his base price of Rs. 20 lakh, albeit in the dying moments of the IPL auction on Sunday. 

"I was watching the auction on TV and although there were no expectations, it was hard to shake off the jitters," Jagadeesan told Sportstar a day after the hammer went down at the ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru.  "I just sat on the couch hoping someone would pick me and since it was CSK, it felt great! I think it's a very good opportunity for me," the 22-year-old added. 

Jagadeesan - a local uncapped talent -  wishes to "make the most of his stint" but remains pragmatic about his playing chances.  "With the likes of Dhoni in the team, I  might not get a chance to play - maybe one game here and there and in that one outing, I need to leave a mark," he said.

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Jagadeesan was only eight when erstwhile India and current CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni debuted in 2004.

 

Fourteen years later, as he prepares to brush shoulders with 'Captain Cool', the youngster is aware "it is going be a great learning curve." "He (Dhoni) is an idol to so many cricketers. The mere thought of sitting next to him in the dressing room gives me goosebumps," he said with a palpable sense of excitement. 

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Asked how the State's domestic T20 tournament Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) had helped his game, Jagadeesan, who plays for the Dindigul Dragons,  said, "Definitely! TNPL has had a great impact on the careers of a lot of youngsters. It has highlighted and enhanced their performances over the years.

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"M. Ashwin, T. Natarajan got noticed because of their exploits in the league and there are others too, who probably didn't get selected, but were in the limelight nevertheless - like K. Vignesh or Sanjay Yadav who played for the Knight Riders (KKR). 

The last few days have been "absolutely crazy" for Jagadeesan. "Since the news broke, I've been getting calls and messages. In fact, I've had to turn off my phone at night (laughs)," he exclaimed.

In a few months, he will embrace the IPL carnival — like so many other lesser-known faces — and hope to blaze a trail.

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