IPL Auction: Kolkata Knight Riders Buy New Mystery Spinner KC Cariappa
The IPL auction has made an unknown name into a millionaire, yet again. Karnataka Premier League spinner gets picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders.
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KC Cariappa, cricket - try searching that name on the internet. Before this year's IPL auctions, that name wouldn't have given you much search results but today, it's a different story. Meet KC Cariappa, the latest millionaire in Indian cricket. While all the limelight has been focused on Yuvraj Singh, Kevin Pietersen and Dinesh Karthik, the Kolkata Knight Riders bought this 20-year-old 'mystery' spinner from Karnataka for a massive Rs. 2.4 crore.
Not many Indian fans know him, but the IPL teams surely do. Starting from a base price of Rs 10 lakh, Cariappa stirred some severe interest among the teams. The bidding war got intense between Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata and finally, the Knight Riders landed the man from Hubli at a whopping price. (IPL 2015 Player Auctions Live Updates)
The Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise has a history of picking 'mystery' spinners, hence wanted him to be a part of their outfit. (From Tennis Ball Cricket to IPL Riches: Story of KC Cariappa)
A regular feature for the Bijapur Bulls, Cariappa has been a prolific wicket-taker for the Karnataka Premier League side and took 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6. His best bowling figures was four for 19 against the Rockstars. The uncapped spinner, who is adept at bowling the carrom ball and a variety of other deliveries, is yet to make his debut for Karnataka in any domestic competition.
Cariappa's story is similar to that of another spinner in the IPL -- Pravin Tambe. The Rajasthan Royals player was a regular in Mumbai's local competitions and was picked up during by the franchise while he was playing a local T20 game. (Yuvraj Singh Happy to Play for Delhi Daredevils)
"Where talent meets opportunity" - that's what is etched on the base of the Indian Premier League trophy and keeping up to its promise of promoting Indian talent, the IPL, over the years, have thrown up multiple unknown names. It's a tournament where fairytales are made and the eighth edition promises to script another.
Will Cariappa do a Pravin Tambe? Or will he be just a one season wonder like Paul Valthaty?