Youngest ISPL player from Kulgam fetches Rs 3.20 lakhs in auction

KULGAM — A 14-year-old teenager has emerged as the youngest player to be signed by the Bangalore Strikers in the inaugural Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) as the under-19 cricketer secured Rs 3.20 lakhs in the auction.

The inaugural season of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) is set to kick off from March 6-15, 2024.

With a T10 format and matches played using tennis balls, the league aims to unearth emerging cricketing talent through its six competing teams.

Sharik Yasir, a 14-year-old 9th-grade student from Gopalpora village in Kulgam, is a wicketkeeper-batsman. During auction, he secured Rs 3.20 lakhs from the ‘Bangalore Strikers,’ owned by Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan.

While speaking to the news agency KNO, he said, “My father submitted my form for the ISPL. After that, I went for trials at different places where I performed well, earning myself a green ticket.”

“In the auction, I was picked up by the Bangalore Strikers team for Rs 3.20 lakh, making me the youngest ever in the league,” he said.

He said that he plays as a batsman-cum-wicketkeeper, and his batting prowess stood out more than his wicketkeeping during the trials. “I will strive to perform my best during matches,” he added.

“Both studies and sports are crucial in today’s era,” he said and added that due to the lack of a playground in his village, he played more in lanes than on the ground. He urged the government to develop a playground in his village to nurture more talent from the area.