Bahrain all-rounder Sathaiya Veerapathiran, who created a sensation in February when he put the Ireland bowling attack to the sword in Oman, has been recruited by the new Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Gujarat Titans as a net bowler.
“I am very excited to be here,” Veerapathiran told GDN in an exclusive telephone interview from Ahmedabad, the Gujarat state capital, where he is serving out his Indian government-mandated Covid-19 quarantine after arriving in India on March 12.
“I am really looking forward to being able to practice with, and learn from, some of the best players in the world.”
The Tamil Nadu-born 30-year-old, who works in sales at the Bahrain office of a multi-national company in his day job, became an instant celebrity in the kingdom when he almost took his side to a come-from-behind victory against full International Cricket Council (ICC) team Ireland, smashing 33 not out off just 14 balls.
Bahrain eventually fell short of their target in that match of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier A tournament in Oman. But Veerapathiran’s heroics earned him the admiration of the entire Ireland team and a fan in seasoned Irish star Paul Stirling, who witnessed the carnage wrought by the right-hander at close range from his fielding position.
Bahrain head coach and former India international, Aashish Kapoor, was instrumental in recruiting Veerapathiran, who bowls right-arm medium pace, for the Titans after seeing him produce a commanding all-round performance in a practice match in Bahrain, ahead of the tournament in Oman.
Currently the spin coach and head of talent scouts for the Titans, Kapoor, who played Test and one-day international (ODI) matches for India and has been associated with other IPL franchises as well as having been involved in India’s junior cricket set-up, decided on the spot to consider Veerapathiran for a slot in his team’s support bowling line-up.
“Mr Kapoor told me right after that game that, if I kept on producing the goods, he would take me to the Titans as a net bowler,” Veerapathiran said. “Once the qualifying tournament ended in Oman, he said he had made up his mind that I was heading to Ahmedabad.”
With his quarantine period set to finish today, the all-rounder is now extremely keyed up to meet and play practice matches with some of the cricketers he has idolised.
“I can’t wait to meet Hardik Pandya,” he said, referring to the swashbuckling Indian all-rounder.
“And Rashid Khan … I am a big fan of his!”
Khan is a star Afghan leg-spinning all-rounder, much sought after by domestic cricket leagues, like the IPL, around the world.
More than just meeting some of the world’s best cricketers, though, Veerapathiran is eager to learn as much as he can from them during his time at the IPL, which begins on March 26 and runs for over two months.
“It’s not just about bowling to them, or batting against them in practice matches,” he explained. “Being part of the dressing room, I’ll be able to see how they train, their diet plans, their preparations for every game … I’ll be able to ask them questions, pick their minds and learn as much as I can.”
The news of his selection as a net bowler for the Titans – one of two new IPL franchises introduced for this year’s edition – had pleased the entire Bahraini cricketing fraternity, Bahrain Cricket Federation (BCF) president Hatim Dadabai told GDN.
“We are very proud of Sathaiya,” he said. “His selection as a net bowler shows the potential we have in the kingdom, the kind of talent that can be unearthed as we make further progress in the cricketing sphere on the island. We wish him all the best and hope that, next year, he could end up actually playing for the Titans in the IPL.”
Veerapathiran said he wasn’t looking that far ahead just yet.
“Of course, I would love to become a part of the actual squad next year,” he said. “But, for now, my focus is on doing the best I can in the role I have been given. Who knows … if I do well now, I might get a chance in 2023.”
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