Bengaluru, Feb 21: Harbhajan Singh was the reason for this Karnataka cricketer to bowl offspin. Now he is excited to be in the same team as his idol and learn the tricks of the trade, all thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
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Bengaluru's 28-year-old offspinning all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham was yesterday (February 20) bought by Mumbai Indians at the IPL 2017 Players Auction here.
Gowtham's reserve price was Rs 10 lakh and he got 20 times more of that as the MI owners won the bid at Rs 2 crore. (Retained players' list)
"I was not expecting any price to be honest. I just wanted to be picked by any franchise," Gowtham told OneIndia in an exclusive interview when asked about whether he was surprised at his price.
"I was nervous. I was keenly following the auction with family, on TV," he added.
Gowtham, who has so far played 12 first-class matches (36 wickets) and 20 Twenty20s (16 wickets), is excited to play with his idol Harbhajan and also to be a part of the franchise which has many "legends".
"I am very happy to be a part of Mumbai Indians, which has a lot of legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Mahela Jayawardene, Kieron Pollard, Rohit Sharma.
"It is a great feeling to play with my idol Harbhajan Singh. I have always looked upto him. I really can't express my feelings at the moment. I have never met Harbhajan and now I have a chance to meet and also play with him," Gowtham said.
Gowtham made his first-class debut in 2012 but had to wait 3 more years to return to the scene. In the past Ranji Trophy season (2016-17), he bagged 27 wickets for Karnataka from 8 matches.
In the 2016 Karnataka Premier League (KPL), Gowtham emerged as the joint 4th highest wicket-taker with 11 scalps from 8 games (Average 15.72, Economy 5.58, Best 3/23) for Mysuru Warriors.
At the age of 15 years, Gowtham, like any other youngster, started off with tennis ball cricket in Bengaluru.
He revealed that he copied Harbhajan's action and due to this his Karnataka team-mates nicknamed him "Bhajji", the same monicker which the Indian veteran spinner carries.
"I started playing cricket at the age of 15. I copied Harbhajan Singh's action and due to this my team-mates used to call me Bhajji. I have always idolised him," Gowtham recalled. However, his action is different now.
Apart from Harbhajan, Gowtham is really excited to meet and learn from another player, it is big-hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard.
"In batting, I would like to power hit like Kieron Pollard. For me it is an immense pleasure to watch him taking the bowling attacks apart. I like the power of Pollard and am keen to interact with him at Mumbai Indians," Gowtham, who is very capable batsman, said.
"I started playing cricket at the age of 15. I copied Harbhajan Singh's action"
Recently, Gowtham, playing for India A, registered his highest first-class score of 74 as he stunned Australia in a three-day game at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.
Gowtham smashed 10 fours and 4 sixes in a 68-ball 74 against the Steve Smith-led side.
"It was a great experience playing against Australia in Mumbai. It was a new kind of experience for me. However, I did not take pressure and did what best I had been doing in matches," he said.
When asked whether life has changed since yesterday, he said, "It is normal. Only difference is that I have been getting a lot of phone calls."
Ask him what he wants to do with the big money from IPL, he answers, "I want to buy a house for my family."
With the auction over and the tournament set to start on April 5, Gowtham is focused on doing well and proving his worth for the team and enhance his chances of representing India.
"I am now focused on doing well. I want to prove my worth. IPL is a platform to get into the Indian side and I am keen to impress," he signed off.
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