IPL 2022 Mega Auction: U19 sensation Rajvardhan Hangargekar picked by CSK, his late father's favourite team

All 10 squads have been finalized with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction coming to a conclusion. The two-day bidding event was action-packed as several players went massive under the hammer. While some of the prominent names went unsold, several prodigies fetched substantial deals. All-rounder Rajvardhan Hangargekar, who was a part of India’s U19 World Cup 2022 winning squad, belongs to the latter category.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) splashed a substantial INR 1.5 crore to get the youngster on board. CSK had to beat the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans to bag the 19-year-old’s services. Hangargekar is a right-arm pacer who can set the speed gun on fire alongside being a handy pinch-hitter lower down the order. He was also instrumental in taking India U19 to glory this year.

Bagging a contract from CSK was indeed special for Hangargekar as the team was his late father’s favourite. The all-rounder’s thoughts were with his father, who succumbed to COVID-19 in 2020. While CSK was Hangargekar’s father’s favourite team, their captain MS Dhoni was his favourite cricketer. Hence, the youngster got emotional while talking about the same.

My father just loved CSK and used to follow them passionately: Rajvardhan Hangargekar

“My father just loved CSK and used to follow them passionately. I wish he were alive to see this day. Wherever he is, he will certainly be happier than all of us. I really have no words,” he said, choking with emotion, in an interaction with The Indian Express. More than the colossal money, Hangargekar is excited to share the dressing room with some of the big names in world cricket.

“More than money, for me, playing is important. These things will come as long as I am performing. So, my only focus will be on doing well in my cricket,” asserted the youngster. Meanwhile, Hangargekar’s coach Mohan Jadhav wants his student to observe Dhoni and learn from him.

“Playing in the IPL is a dream for every cricketer. My only advice to Rajvardhan is to watch and learn from Dhoni. I know if given a chance, he will showcase his talent as well. There will be nerves, but he is mentally very strong. I have seen him grow as a person since he lost his father to COVID-19 in June 2020,” said Jadhav.