Always wished to get clicked with Virat Kohli: Prayas Ray Barman

Even a day ago, the name Prayas Ray Barman was an unknown one, but yesterday’s auction of the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) made him an overnight star. He was listed at a base price of INR 20 lakhs and was eventually picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a whopping INR 1.50 crore. RCB were involved in a bidding war with Kings XI Punjab (IPL) for the 16-year-old.

Barman, a skilled leg-break bowler, has played only nine List ‘A’ matches in his career after making his debut in the erstwhile Vijay Hazare Trophy where he ended as Bengal’s leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets from nine matches. Not even in his wildest dreams had he thought that he would get the privilege of playing alongside Virat Kohli, the RCB skipper, with whom he also wished to get clicked.

It will be a big learning curve for me

After getting the big bucks from the Challengers, the leggie couldn’t hold on to his excitement and expressed his desire of interacting with the likes of Kohli and AB de Villiers, the retired South African cricketer. “The feeling has not sunk in. But I’m getting a flood of calls, with several in waiting. Never expected I will be picked. Like any other youngster in India, Virat is our role model.

I always had a dream to click a photo with Kohli. I’ve tried a lot but did not get any opportunity.  Now that I would be sharing the dressing room with my hero is just unbelievable. Sharing the dressing room, practising, interacting with the likes of Kohli, AB de Villiers on a day to day basis. It will be a big learning curve for me,” Barman was quoted as saying in Hindustan Times.

Prayas impressed in his very first match against Jammu and Kashmir in Chennai. He returned with incredible figures of 5-0-20-4. His stupendous spell of bowling helped Bengal restrict their opponents for 96 in 23.4 overs. Bengal tracked down the target in the 21st over and won by six wickets.

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