Being top buy at TNPL auction high point of Ashwanth’s roller-coaster ride

During Lucknow Super Giants’ pre-season camp in Chennai earlier this year, Rishabh Pant had a duel with a net bowler set up by the team’s assistant coach, Lance Klusener, to score 15 runs. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter managed to clear the target off the last ball and later hugged the bowler. That bowler on Friday turned heads when he became the costliest buy of the TNPL auction.

For Ashwanth Valthapa, it was the latest highlight in what has been a fascinating journey. The 25-year-old mystery spinner started his cricketing life in Tiruchi and was even part of the Tamil Nadu State under-14 probables before his family moved to the UAE.

In Dubai, Ashwanth continued to pursue the dream that saw him rise through the ranks and represent the UAE in three ODIs and one T20I.

However, the lack of opportunities there led Ashwanth to return home and restart his cricketing career in a much more competitive environment.

If a winding journey is not challenging enough, Ashwanth is a wicketkeeper-batter who has transformed into a mystery spinner in the last couple of years and even managed to catch the attention of IPL sides.

“I’m slightly passionate on the field, but as a ’keeper, you really can’t control the game. You can only react to the game. I always wanted to do more, and after I got dropped from the UAE side a few years ago, I decided to start bowling,” says Ashwanth, who credits former India pacer Bharat Arun for helping him find his footing once he moved to Chennai.

Soon, Ashwanth started playing in the TNCA second division for Swaraj CC last year, and then the duel with Pant helped him become a travelling net bowler with LSG this year.

On his target for the TNPL, Ashwanth says, “I just want to enjoy the tournament and win the title for my team. The last one-and-a-half years have been the hardest to leave everything and come here. I can’t wait to play in the TNPL”.