When was the last time you saw a cricket team field three teenagers? The Indian Premier League experienced a rare occasion when Prithvi Shaw, Abhishek Sharma and Sandeep Lamichhane represented Delhi Daredevils against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi on Saturday.
The 18-year-old Shaw, who already hit two half-centuries in the tournament, was joined by his India U-19 team-mate Abhishek and Nepal leggie Lamichhane — both 17 years of age.
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In fact, Lamichhane is the first cricketer from Nepal to grace the cash-rich league.
Shaw failed with the bat, but Abhishek — bought by DD for Rs 55 crore — compensated by delivering a brisk 19-ball 46 down the order. He smashed three fours and four sixes in his unbeaten cameo.
Though DD lost the game by five wickets, Lamichhane’s figures — 4-0-25-1 — at an economy of 6.25 have been impressive for a debutant. He picked the wicket of Parthiv Patel.
Lamichhane first came under spotlight when he bagged a hat-trick in the U-19 World Cup fixture against Ireland in 2016.
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At the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in March, Lamichhane’s heroics (4/29) against Papua New Guinea helped Nepal gain the ODI status. It won the fixture by six wickets.
He was bought for Rs 20 lakh by DD at the auctions.
Since DD has nothing to lose now, it can choose to experiment further by retaining Lamichhane in the playing XI for the remaining games.
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