IPL 2021: Krishnappa Gautham recalls the moment he became the most expensive uncapped player at the IPL auction on Thursday, revealing that his parents had tears of joy after taking Rs. 9.25 crores by CSK.
A net bowler with the Indian team, Karnataka all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham is still trying to get a grip on his feelings after facing a 9.25-crore estrangement with the Chennai Super Kings, leaving his parents and wife Tears flowed Of pleasure. After bidding in the IPL auction in Chennai on Thursday, Gautam was bought by CSK, his price surpassing Krunal Pandya’s record of Rs 8.8 crore in 2018 for the player uncapped by Mumbai Indians. “It was nervous, I was very worried, watching on TV,” he told ESPNcricinfo, who is currently a net bowler as a net bowler for the series with the Indian Test team in Ahmedabad.
“We just landed in Ahmedabad and I just came on TV and my name surfaced. Every minute the emotions were changing. Then, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya knocked on my door and gave me a big hug and they asked. A great treat. “
His base price was Rs 20 lakh, and he was quickly the focus of a fierce bidding war between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad before CSK made a late bid.
The 32-year-old off-spinner all-rounder from Karnataka has modest IPL figures. He has played just 24 matches in three seasons since 2018 and has scored 186 runs and taken 13 wickets.
He was part of the Rajasthan Royals, playing 15 and 7 matches in two seasons – 2018 and 2019 respectively – and with Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2020, where he played just two games before being released.
Gautam’s parents and wife drowned in tears in Bengaluru when they came to know of the good news.
“My parents had tears, happy tears. They were all very happy for me,” Gautam said.
“It’s hard to describe that feeling. It’s all just sinking in. Obviously, this isn’t the first time I’ve been part of an auction, but every time your name comes up, you have butterflies in your stomach. Is unimaginable. “
Gautham, an India A regular, will play at CSK under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and he remembers queuing up with some other uncapped players to get his bat signed by the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman after an IPL game three years ago.
“The first time I met him, I asked MS what I needed to do to take my game to the next level,” Gautham recalled.
“It was a fanboy moment. After that, I’ve succeeded in chatting with him once or twice, there hasn’t been a really long chat, they’re just short and simple.
“I am now looking forward to joining the set-up and have had many fruitful conversations with him. Playing for CSK is an exciting feeling.”
Five years ago, things were tough for Gautam, when he was in the grip of self-doubt. He was informed of a suspicious action that required remodeling. Then, he was not picked even after his bowling action was considered legal by his state team Karnataka.
He said, “It was tough, yes, there weren’t too many opportunities, but I tried to make the most of my time. The kind of person I am, you have to learn and improve every day.”
“I worked on my fitness, working hard to improve my skills in the nets and learning more and more from Anil Kumble and other senior coaches so that I could be ready whenever the opportunity comes.”
“Keep giving your best. Every day is a new opportunity. My aim is to be a better version of my previous self. Day by day, keep getting better. It’s just that simple.”
