The World of Cricket is seeing a celebrated moment regarding the inaugural season of NPL (Nepal Premier League). Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan is the only Indian cricketer in this tournament who is playing for Karnali Yaks in NPL 2024.
The NPL tournament began on 30th November and the Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan was the one to be very excited to participate. The first edition of the Nepal Premier League brings together some top cricketers across the globe. NPL’s final match is set to be concluded on 21st December, where all matches of the ongoing Nepal Premier League will be held at the Tribhuvan University grounds.
Overwhelming Welcome For Shikhar Dhawan’s NPL Debut!
When Shikhar Dhawan landed in Nepal, he received a grand welcome on his way from the airport to the stadium. A huge number of fans were lined up to click a picture and shoot a video of Dhawan’s entry to the cricket field after a long gap.
Undoubtedly, Shikhar Dhawan is one of the former Indian stars who is the 2nd highest run-scorer in IPL (Indian Premier League). Shikhar Dhawan has a cumulative of 6768 runs out of 222 IPL matches, standing 2nd after Virat Kohli who is on the top with 8004 runs in 252 matches.
Underwhelming Debut with Shikhar Dhawan’s 14 Runs for 14 Deliveries!
Indian audiences were eager to see Shikhar Dhawan make his debut in the NPL (Nepal Premier League) because he was the only Indian to play in the inaugural season of this tournament.
On 2nd December 2024, the Karnali Yaks played against the Janakpur Bolts at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Shikhar Dhawan who played for Karnali Yaks as an opening batter could not last more than 14 deliveries but managed to keep up the cheers of the crowd. He smashed 3 fours before Harsh Thaker, the Canada’s Pace bowler, had clean-bowled him.
Nepal star all-rounder Sompal Kami— the captain of the Karnali Yaks decided to bat first after winning the toss.
Earlier this year, Shikhar Dhawan had officially retired from the International cricket and IPL (Indian Premier League). End-of-the-day, the international retired cricketer Shikhar Dhawan pulled off to keep the Indian audience entertained, who were eager to see his unique batting style. Shikhar Dhawan had struck a 4 in the first over, and then he smashed another 2 fours during the 3rd and 5th overs.
Shikhar Dhawan had wrongly estimated a Harsh Thaker’s delivery, which resulted in getting bowled. The Indian Star cricketer managed to score only 14 runs out of 14 deliveries.
Shikhar Dhawan’s Earnings per Match in NPL 2024
The much-anticipated star cricketer of India makes his debut in the NPL (Nepal Premier League). IPL’s 2nd highest run-getter is said to earn a whopping sum of $30,000 per match, where he would be playing for the Karnali Yaks.
Did Shikhar Dhawan leave IPL for NPL?
Fans were disappointed when Shikhar Dhawan decided to leave the IPL (Indian Premier League), as they felt that he had more cricket left in him. Also, there were many speculations that Dhawan doubted himself to go unsold IPL.
But what really could be and what the cricket enthusiasts think is that Indian Players of IPL might not participate in other leagues around the world. Probably that is the reason even Dinesh Karthik has left IPL, but he is playing in Abu Dhabi T10.
Advantage to Indian Cricketers after Shikhar Dhawan’s debut in NPL.
If Shikhar Dhawan continues playing in smaller leagues like NPL, he is likely to gain more attention and demand. This is because of the shortage of Indian players in other leagues across the world. At the same time, India being the 2nd country with the highest population, the overseas leagues would require more Indian views.
As a result, many Indian star cricketers could be seen playing in the overseas league, until and unless the IPL rules allow them to simultaneously participate.
Indian Fans for Nepal Premier League
One of the best things about the NPL (Nepal Premier League) is the match timings. As Nepal’s time zone is near and compatible with India, more Indian fans will view this tournament. Moreover, the matches in which Shikhar Dhawan appears would get tons of Indian consumer views.
Fans have been expecting that if NPL becomes bigger in the future, they might see many other favorite Indian cricketers playing in this league.
Shikhar Dhawan Voices His Opinion Ahead of NPL 2024: The League Improves the Cricket Growth in Nepal
Before the commencement of NPL 2024, Shikhar Dhawan expressed his excitement about how the league can promote cricket throughout the nation.
The left-handed batter said that he wasn’t able to wait for the first match to begin to witness the thrilling action in the inaugural season of the NPL. He is confident that this franchise league in Nepal could play a crucial role in the game’s development across the nation and has appreciated the passion that lives for the sport in the country.
The ex-Indian cricketer feels that Nepal cricketers can experience immense growth in their cricket careers. Furthermore, Dhawan says that it is a valuable opportunity for young players to get inspired and learn important skills from international star cricketers.
Can Shikhar Dhawan Make an Outstanding Contribution for Karnali Yaks in NPL 2024? Final Opinion
After a flop start to the NPL 2024, it is expected that Dhawan will concentrate on working out his weaknesses to entertain his fans by playing a crucial role for Karnali Yaks in the upcoming six matches against these opponents:
- 4th December: Kathmandu Gurkhas
- 6th December: Chitwan Rhinos
- 7th December: Biratnagar Kings
- 10th December: Pokhara Avengers
- 13th December:Lumbini Lions
- 16th December: Sudur Paschim Royals