Narwal smashes all-time Pro Kabaddi League record, sold to 'UP Yoddha' for Rs 1.65 cr
Mumbai, (PTI): Talismanic raider Pardeep Narwal smashed an all-time record by becoming the highest-ever bought kabaddi player in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), after being bought by the 'UP Yoddha' for Rs 1.65 crore.
The 'UP Yoddha' bought Narwal on Monday, the second day of the PKL auction for the upcoming season 8, which will take place in December.
Pardeep continues to re-write history books, with his price tag now quashing that of another star raider Monu Goyat, who was bought by the 'Haryana Steelers' for Rs 1.51 crore in Season 6, stated a media release issued by the PKL late Monday night.
Narwal now finds himself a new home after spending five seasons with the 'Patna Pirates'.
Meanwhile, Siddharth Desai was retained by the 'Telugu Titans' via the Final Bid Match (FBM) card for Rs 1.30 crore from his base price of Rs 30 lakh.
More than 22 overseas players were sold on the second day.
All-rounder Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (base price Rs 10 lakh), was sold to the 'Patna Pirates' for Rs 31 lakh, while the 'Bengal Warriors' bought defender Abozar Mohajermighani, bidding for him at Rs 30.5 lakh from the base price of Rs 20 lakh.
The 'Patna Pirates' used their FBM card to retain South Korean raider Jang Kun Lee at Rs 20.5 lakh, the release said.
After spending six seasons with the 'Telugu Titans' and one season with 'Tamil Thalaivas', Rahul Chaudhari will now play for the 'Puneri Paltans'.
The 'Jaipur Pink Panthers' used both the FBM cards to retain captain Deepak Niwas Hooda and Sandeep Kumar Dhull.
The 'Tamil Thalaivas' bid for raider Manjeet from his base price of Rs 30 lakh and bought him in for Rs 92 lakh.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Rohit Gulia grabbed eyeballs after he was sold to the 'Haryana Steelers' for Rs 83 lakh, a significant jump from his Rs 25-lakh price tag with the 'Gujarat Giants' in Season 7.
Kabaddi is such an elementary game in terms of infrastructure required, that I have no doubt that once we get our act together, the explosion of kabaddi internationally is just waiting to happen, Charu Sharma, co-founder of Mashal Sports, was quoted as saying in the release.
Top 5 Indian players: Pardeep Narwal Rs 1.65 crore -- UP Yoddha
Siddharth Desai Rs 1.30 crore -- Telugu Titans
Manjeet Rs 92 lakh -- Tamil Thalaivas
Sachin Rs 84 lakh -- Patna Pirates
Rohit Gulia Rs 83 lakh -- Haryana Steelers.
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Jaiswal masters tough conditions with fluent 75 as Royals post 173/4 against RCB
Jaipur, Apr 13 (PTI): Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal appeared to be batting on a different surface as he hit a sublime 47-ball 75 to power Rajasthan Royals to 173/4 in challenging conditions against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL clash here on Sunday.
On a tacky Sawai Mansingh Stadium pitch where the ball stayed low and lacked pace, Jaiswal's strokeplay stood out after RCB won a good toss.
The 23-year-old struck 10 fours and two sixes, handling the testing conditions with remarkable poise even as the others around him struggled to get going.
After Jaiswal's departure, Dhruv Jurel got a reprieve from Virat Kohli and played the finisher's role with aplomb, striking a 23-ball 35 not out with two fours and two sixes as RR managed 59 runs in the last five overs.
After negotiating a disciplined opening spell from RCB's pace attack, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal, Jaiswal teed off in the fifth over, hitting a six and a four off Yash Dayal.
He reached his second fifty of the season in 35 balls and ensured Royals maintained momentum through the middle overs.
Unlike his skipper Sanju Samson, who looked scratchy during his 13 off 16 balls, Jaiswal played with clarity and composure.
Samson, bogged down by seven dot balls and tight bowling, survived a run-out chance on 3 but was eventually stumped by Jitesh Sharma after misjudging a low delivery from Krunal Pandya, who bowled well.
Jaiswal, however, looked in complete control. He pierced the field with finesse, employing reverse sweeps and lap shots.
His strong back-foot game also came into play, as he cut and pulled effectively.
He found solid support from Riyan Parag, who looked fluent during his 30-run knock that included a six and three fours.
The duo added 56 runs for the second wicket off just 39 balls.
Parag, however, couldn't capitalise on a life he received on 13, when Dayal dropped a straightforward catch at point off Suyash Sharma's bowling.
He eventually fell in the 14th over to Dayal's well-guised slower back-of-the-hand delivery, mistiming it to Kohli at short cover.
Jaiswal continued to innovate, scooping Hazlewood for a six over fine leg. He followed it up with a thick edge through third man for four, but Hazlewood had the last word. In the same over, Jaiswal missed a sweep across the line to a full delivery and was trapped plumb in front.
RCB's fielding woes continued with Kohli dropping a routine catch of Jurel on 11.
