IPL 2024 auction: Next MS Dhoni in offing!

Jharkhand’s uncapped aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Kushagra emerged as a star attraction in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction held in Dubai on Tuesday. 

Following a fierce bidding war, Delhi Capitals bought the young talent for a whopping Rs 7.20 crore. At just 19 years of age, Kumar Kushagra has already drawn comparisons with the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni. 

Right-handed Kushagra’s adeptness at power-hitting and sound technique caught the eye of scouts of many franchises. It led to an intense bidding tussle among them.

Kushagra hogged the limelight after a standout performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament earlier this year. He amassed 111 runs in six matches for Jharkhand in the domestic tournament. His consistent performances across formats, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy, further solidified his reputation as a promising young talent.

He has scored 275 and 164 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively. Moreover, his ability to adapt his innings based on match conditions showcases not only his cricketing skill but also a maturity beyond his years.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was so impressed with Kushagra during trial camps that he promised to secure the young talent, bidding up to Rs 10 crore if necessary.