Who Is Kumar Kushagra? All You Need To Know About The Exciting Jharkhand Wicketkeeper-Batter Who Joined DC for INR 7.2 Crore

The IPL 2024 Auction continues to throw surprises at us all, with its utility as a springboard for young talent to reach the upper echelons of T20 cricket.

IPL teams have been questing after a band of domestic and international talent to plug the gaps in their squads.

One such name that had caught the major attention of IPL franchises is 19-year-old Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra, who went for a whopping Rs 7.2 crore to the Delhi Capitals today.

Kushagra hit the headlines last year when he belted 266 runs during a Ranji Trophy match for Jharkhand and thus became the youngest ever to score a 250 in the tournament.

Kushagra has notched up 700 runs on a stellar average of 46.66 runs over his List A cricket career. Earlier this year, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy (one-day tournament), he blasted an unbeaten 67 off 37 while batting at no. 6 to help Jharkhand complete a successful chase of 355 vs Maharashtra.

The youngster had been scouted by the likes of various IPL franchises across the country, throughout his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign.

In the auction today, the youngster was put up for a sale at a mere Rs 20 lakh starting bid, instantly attracting the attention of CSK and GT, who went to bat for Kushagra in a competitive bidding war for the 19-year-old.

But, when it seemed like it was all done and dusted as GT knocked off CSK as they crossed the 2 crore mark, Delhi Capitals entered the race with a fury and ensued in a heated bidding war for Kushagra, pushing the price up.

Finally, GT succumbed and Delhi Capitals acquired the Jharkhand batter for a sum of Rs 7.2 crore. He now joins the ranks of wicketkeepers such as DC skipper Rishabh Pant and South African Tristan Stubbs at Delhi, who aim to make a push for the title this year.