IPL 2024: Sunil Gavaskar casts doubt on Teenager during KKR vs DC Match

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India legend Sunil Gavaskar had a sceptical voice on Delhi Capitals scouting which identified Kumar Kushagra during the IPL 2024 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals on Monday (April 29).

Kumar Kushagra was roped in by Delhi Capitals for Rs 7.2 crore in the auction. The young Jharkhand player has been a sensation in domestic cricket and that prompted DC to pay that huge sum.

The Bokaro-born teenager has a prolific record in domestic Tests and ODI matches, but his T20 stats are not that massive. And Kushagra has struggled in the IPL 2024 so far. The youngster has scored 1 run in two IPL innings so far.

Against KKR, Kushagra was introduced as an Impact Player and he got dismissed after scoring just a solitary run. And after his dismissal, Gavaskar raised the question about his selection but conceded the fact that it's still just the start for the youngster.

Kushagra has a T20 average of around 14 and a strike rate which hovers in the 117 region. Gavaskar cited those numbers and said DC scouts must have observed his talent much more deeply that they entrusted the teenager as an Impact Player.

"His stats were showing before he faced the first ball. He has a strike rate of 117 and has scored 140 runs in 13 innings. There must have been something the scouts saw in him. Of course, it's early days, maybe in the remaining matches he will score plenty of runs," Gavaskar said on air.

The 19-year-old was the 2nd most expensive uncapped player in IPL 2024 auction after CSK's Sameer Rizvi, who was bought for Rs. 8.4 crore.