I was not expecting the teams to bid for me in the IPL 2018 auction: Manjot Kalra

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) auction was a great spectacle and a staggering event, which also gained millions of viewership on the global level. The auctioneer event also bridged in a few surprising moments for the young bunch of budding Indian domestic cricketers. Some players from recent winning India Under 19 team of the Under 19 World Cup played in New Zealand, also attracted some huge bids for the upcoming edition of the competition. India Under-19 team’s opener and star performer of the final game, Manjot Kalra who stole the show in the crucial game against Australia with a stunning match-winning century, did not expect to grab a bid at the IPL 2018 auction.

Kalra delivered some consistent performances at the top of the batting order that laid a strong foundation for the rest of the middle-order to capitalize on the steady start provided throughout the competition. He amassed 252 runs at an average of 84 in six matches, which includes an impressive century in the finale match. The left-handed opener was bought by Delhi Daredevils at his base price of Rs 20 lakhs in 2018 IPL auction, along with many of his teammates who were also bought by the different franchises for the upcoming season of the tournament.

I was attending the team meeting when I was picked by Delhi Daredevils

IPL 2018 auction which was held for a couple of days, was going on at the same time when the Indian junior team was playing the important World Cup in New Zealand. Manjot revealed that he never had any big expectations to get picked by any of the franchises for the coming season. To reduce the anticipated different typed of mental distractions, the junior players were instructed to not watch the auction event by the team management during the major competition.

“There were no expectations. I did watch a bit of auction ceremony but I wasn’t expecting a bid. There was team meeting going on when someone from my family messaged me that Delhi Daredevils have bought me. We were told not to watch it as it was a distraction for us. There was a simple message for us – we are in New Zealand for the World Cup,” said Manjot as quoted by cricket world.