Sandeep Lamichhane opts jersey number '1' for his stint with Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2018

The biggest cricketing extravaganza in India’s calendar, IPL 2018 is just weeks away and the teams have already started with their penultimate preparations. Speaking about Delhi Daredevils, the franchise has made some smart buys in January’s auction. The squad looks lethal on paper and have shaped up good in a bid to win their maiden title.

Coupled with that, the franchise has enjoyed an additional million followers due to the purchase of first ever Nepalese cricketer, Sandeep Lamichanne into their ranks. The 17-year-old cricketer was auctioned for INR 20 lakhs.

And recently, the leg-spinner from Nepal was handed the Delhi Daredevils (DD) jersey. Nepal Sports Council Member Secretary Keshav Bista on Thursday awarded the shirt with the number ’1′ to Lamichhane.

Speaking in regard of his choice about the number on his jersey, Sandeep revealed, ”I cannot take the number 25 from my seniors, as the birth date of my deceased Nephew falls on January i.e. 1, so I took the number for the jersey and we always want to be number one for which I took the number.”

Daredevils wanted to be discreet about Lamichhane’s signing

The young leggie has already turned eyes, even prior to the start of the tournament. Naturally, the franchise wanted to be discreet about Lamichhane’s signing, whom Delhi plans to use as the triumph card.

The CEO of the franchise, Hemant Dua also recently revealed that they were secretly hoping to buy the spinner without being aloud about their intentions. Dua revealed they have been tracking the 20-year old since the Hong Kong Sixes tournament in Kowloon and subsequently in the U-19 World Cup of 2016 in Bangladesh.

Sandeep, who featured in Nepal’s national squad in the ICC World Cup qualifiers at Zimbabwe, has returned after the team failed to make it to the Super Six stage. He will be heading to India next week for the much-anticipated IPL.