Sumit Kumar breaks silence after losing INR 1 crore IPL contract due to picture goof-up
The journey to becoming a cricketer is not that easy and it requires a combination of various aspects such as talent, hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck as well. Even though one becomes a cricketer, it is important to survive for the long term.
Moreover, the competition at the grassroots level and even in youth and junior cricket is intense, with several talented players aiming for limited spots. As a result, to make it to the national team, players need to perform consistently at the domestic level.
It is quite obvious that the selection process is rigorous and selectors look for not just skill but also other parameters such as consistency, mental toughness, fitness, and adaptability. Representing Team India is not that easy. However, over the years, uncapped players have taken the IPL route to make it to the national team. Recently, Jharkhand cricketer named Sumit Kumar was pumped up upon knowing that he was picked up by Delhi Capitals for INR 1 crore at the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai.
Read more: Yuzvendra Chahal savagely trolls RCB’s bowling unit during a live gaming stream
Sumit Kumar opens up on losing 1 crore IPL contract
Sumit Kumar operates as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the Jharkhand cricket team in the domestic circuit. His mother was immensely pleased after seeing the photo on TV during the live auction that happened at the Coca-Cola Arena in the Gulf nation. The cricketer registered his name for his base price of INR 20 lakh. Sumit’s mother was elated after the bidding raised to 1 crore before Delhi Capitals sealed his signature.
However, the happiness in Sumit Kumar’s home was short-lived. Sumit Kumar learnt that Delhi Capitals posted a picture of some other cricketer named “Sumit Kumar” from Haryana to laud him. The Jharkhand cricketer further opened up that the auction broadcaster showed his photograph during the bidding process.
“My mother was so happy. She was continuously praying for me. But how is this possible? I agree that the names can be the same but what about the photo that was flashed on the television screen? My photo was there, my name was there. I failed to console my mother. She was so emotional. She was so happy after seeing my name and photo on the television screen and then this shocking incident happened. Delhi Capitals are a big team. I didn’t expect them to play with a cricketer’s emotions. My family and I felt too bad about it,” Sumit told Times of India.
“They put my photo on their Instagram handle as well, they searched for me and they tagged me as well. When I got the notification, I was 100 percent confident. But when they deleted it after a couple of hours, I was confused and shocked,” Sumit Kumar expressed his ordeal.
Read more: South Africa name uncapped player Neil Brand as Test captain for New Zealand series
