Virat Singh is geared up to let his bat do the talking in the 13th edition of Indian Premier league (IPL) starting in Dubai next month.
The 23-year-old left-hander will be making his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who signed him for Rs 1.90 crore during the auction in Calcutta last year.
Virat has used the coronavirus-induced lockdown to keep himself in fine fettle – mentally and physically.
He worked out at his Kadma home gym, where he also played badminton, and sprinting was reserved for the Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Stadium.
The youngster is aware that stamina and endurance would be key in the glamour-rich tournament.
“I am looking forward to the IPL. It’s my debut tournament and I would like to cash in on the opportunity. I am fully geared up for the challenge,``said Virat, who captained Jharkhand under-19 team and is a member of the senior (read Ranji Trophy) side.
Speaking to e, Virat said he will leave for Mumbai on August 21 to join the team.
“I will be having my coronavirus test tomorrow (Tuesday) and leave for Mumbai via Ranchi on August 21. I will be required to undergo a Covid test once again in Mumbai. We leave for Dubai on August 23. Hope things go well,” the southpaw with good reflexes who knows how to excel in crunched situations, added
On being asked if missing out on outdoor training sessions has affected his preparation, Virat said the case was the same for a majority of cricketers.
“But I used the lockdown to keep myself in good shape. That way I will not lose out on the preparation front. I am fully prepared mentally and physically,” he said.
Virat’s last competitive outing was a Ranji match against Odisha early this February in Cuttack this year.
“I am looking towards just one solid knock in the IPL. Things will fall in place after I get that knock,” he said.
Virat’s performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament last year tilted the situation in his favour when it came to IPL. The young batsman, who also bowls a leg spin, has the ability to hold the innings while accelerating.
In the tournament’s 10 matches, Virat had amassed 343 runs at an average of 57.17.
Virat has played 56 T20s for Jharkhand, scored 1,552 runs at an average of 35.3 with a strike rate of 124.5.
He has led the Jharkhand Under-19 side and made his debut for state Senior Sides in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2014.
He lives with his businessman father Binod Singh, homemaker mother Renu and brothers Vivek and Vishal.
