{"id":181024,"date":"2024-11-23T10:48:15","date_gmt":"2024-11-23T10:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/23\/exclusive-in-ipl-you-need-to-do-something-out-of-the-box-to-get-attention-virender-sehwag-fan-swastik-chikara-ahead-of-auction-cricket-news-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2024-11-23T10:48:16","modified_gmt":"2024-11-23T10:48:16","slug":"exclusive-in-ipl-you-need-to-do-something-out-of-the-box-to-get-attention-virender-sehwag-fan-swastik-chikara-ahead-of-auction-cricket-news-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/23\/exclusive-in-ipl-you-need-to-do-something-out-of-the-box-to-get-attention-virender-sehwag-fan-swastik-chikara-ahead-of-auction-cricket-news-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive | ‘In IPL you need to do something out of the box to get attention’: ‘Virender Sehwag fan’ Swastik Chikara ahead of auction | Cricket News – Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Swastik Chikara (X Photo)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

NEW DELHI:<\/span> Uttar Pradesh has seen a massive rise in cricketing talents over the last few decades. From Suresh Raina<\/a> to Rinku Singh, some of the best batters that donned the shades of blue were first tried and tested on the soil of UP.
Hailing from the same land, Swastik Chikara has been creating waves with his flamboyant style, potentially alerting franchises ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL<\/a>) 2025 mega auction, scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

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Assembly Election Results<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019m praying every day\u201d: Chikara\u2019s IPL auction<\/keyword> anticipation<\/b><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll be glued to the TV that day. I\u2019ll watch the whole auction. Hopefully, my name gets picked on the first day. I\u2019m praying to the Gods every day,” Chikara told TimesofIndia.com. “First of all, I want to break into IPL playing XI. I have noticed that if you do well after getting a chance, your stake keeps going higher. My only focus is that I want to do as well as I can in IPL. And then playing for India is a dream.”
In the 2024 IPL season, Chikara was picked up by the Delhi Capitals for Rs. 20 lacs during the auction. However, his debut season ended without any appearance. “I\u2019ve seen that in IPL, you need to do something out-of-the-box to grab attention.”<\/p>\n

Delhi Capitals experience: Learning under legends<\/b><\/p>\n

Playing under the supervision of Australian legend Ricky Ponting and captaincy of modern phenomenon Rishabh Pant, Chikara amassed buckets of experience. He explained, “His (Ponting) positivity is contagious. He gave me targeted advice on power-hitting and other drills, and his energy as a coach is remarkable.”<\/p>\n

“Rishabh bhaiya (Pant) is very different on and off the field. On the ground, he\u2019s all about cricket, deeply focused. Off the field, he\u2019s fun-loving and chill, which is why I like about him,” the Ghaziabad-born rising star asserted.
“It was incredible to share the dressing room with legends like Rishabh bhaiya and Axar (Patel) bhaiya. I used to follow them, their discipline, techniques, and game strategies closely, which taught me a lot.”<\/p>\n

A huge Virender Sehwag<\/keyword> fan<\/b><\/p>\n

Chikara made the 2024 UP T20 League his playground, where he claimed the Orange Cap, the MVP award, and the Super Striker of the Season title while steering the Meerut Mavericks to victory.<\/p>\n

With four half-centuries and a blistering century, his bat did the talking. “I\u2019ve always been a huge fan of Virender Sehwag. Watching him play inspired me a lot. He has a big heart. The way he would start attacking from the very first ball at that time was incredible. I try to incorporate that fearless approach into my game too,” acknowledged the top-order batter.
Like Sehwag, Chikara is also skilled at bowling off-spin deliveries. However, he reserves an objection, “Bhaiya mujhe off-spin aati hai, lekin koi karwata nahi hai (I can bowl off-spin, but I don\u2019t get to bowl in matches [laughs]).”<\/p>\n

Rinku Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar<\/keyword>\u2019s Influence<\/b><\/p>\n

Having made UP’s squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Chikara is currently in Mumbai and will be watching his name go up in the auction on a day he has no match to play.<\/p>\n

While the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy gives the starlet a chance to hone his skills, spending time with players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rinku Singh during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has also left a lasting impact on him.
“We played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy together last year, so we spent a lot of time together. Bhuvi bhaiya is very caring and true gentleman. I share rooms with Rinku bhai. He is very good nature-wise,” Chikara had only good words for his seniors.<\/p>\n

UP born and bred<\/b><\/p>\n

When asked about his favourite IPL team, he couldn’t resist a slight smirk on the cusp of his lips. “I like all the teams. I just hope to get picked in the auction this time. That\u2019s my main focus, and the experience would be something new and exciting,” he concluded.
“I liked Delhi because they picked me last year (laughs). But since I\u2019m from UP, playing for Lucknow would be a dream, representing my home state. As a fan, I support UP\u2019s team. Since Delhi picked me last time, I\u2019ve also started supporting them.”<\/div>\n