I’m feeling over the moon, says Cariappaas KKR picks him at IPL auction

‘Who is Konganda Charmanna Cariappa?’ could well have been an Indian Premier League trivia question, because until his name was mentioned by auctioneer Richard Madley during the player auction at the ITC Gardenia Hotel here on Monday, the spinner was seemingly resigned to the slow-climb through his cricketing career.

The 20-year-old Kodava lad inadvertently unleashed a fierce bidding war between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Delhi Daredevils and his base-value of Rs. 10 lakh was shredded as money began to flow.

When finally KKR picked him at Rs. 2.4 crore, a hush fell across the media hall, and then journalists scrambled to get his number.

Reacting to the good news, Cariappa said: “I never expected this kind of bidding. I am feeling over the moon. I was hopeful that I would be picked up for my base price, but not at the price I got. I don’t know how life will change for me now. My father is the supervisor at the Kodava Samaj here, and my mother, a housewife. I started playing cricket seriously about four years ago. The last Karnataka Premier League was my first season where I was bought for Rs. 25,000.” Originally a leg-spinner, Cariappa meandered towards the guiles of off-spin, and people close to him label him as a “mystery spinner”.

It is precisely the reason why he was much sought after in the auction as IPL teams love to spring surprises on their unsuspecting opponents.

His coach, Sudhindra Shinde, said: “He usually bowls the carom ball. He needs to use this opportunity.”

In a State famous for men like B.S. Chandrasekhar, E.A.S. Prasanna, Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi, Cariappa has an enviable legacy to live up to. For now, he is laughing all the way to the bank.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – February 17th, 2015