Left-hander Virat Singh is looking forward to let his bat do the talking in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 22-year-old cricketer from Jamshedpur has been picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 1.90 crore during the IPL auction in Calcutta on Thursday.

Virat possesses good reflexes and never hesitates to attack loose deliveries, assets that have made him a batsman to watch out for.

Playing for Jharkhand senior side, Virat knows how to excel in crunch situations. No wonder, Hyderabad pounced on this youngster to bolster the franchise’s prospects in the IPL.

His recent performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament made things tilt in his favour. Virat, who also bowls leg spin, has the ability to hold the innings while accelerating. In 10 matches in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the young batsman had amassed 343 runs at an average of 57.17.

Although Jharkhand lost, Virat managed to leave his mark. “I was elated after Sunrisers Hyderabad picked me on Thursday’s auction. I would try my best to help the team with my performance,” Virat told The Telegraph, while returning from Ranchi to his home in Jamshedpur on Thursday evening. He was part of the Jharkhand team, which posted an innings and 67-run win over Assam in the Ranji Trophy tie at the JSCA International Stadium.

Virat, who studied at DBMS English School in Jamshedpur, said his primary job was to help Jharkhand continue win matches and reach the Ranji Trophy finals.

“We are playing well as a unit. Our aim is to play the Ranji finals,” he added.

The left-hander who likes to bat at No. 3, is off studies for now. “Cricket has kept me very occupied. I passed out from DBMS English School in 2014 and had no time to take admission in college. But I would like to carry on with my studies,” Virat said, adding his family supports him to the hilt.

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 played 25 first-class matches, scored 1,063 runs at an average of 26.6.

He captained the Jharkhand U-19 team and made his debut for state senior side in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2014.

Virat stays with his businessman father Binod Singh, homemaker mother Renu and brothers Vivek and Vishal in Kadma. Friends and relatives are pouring in at Virat’s house, congratulating him and offering their best wishes.

Former minister and Independent candidate from Jamshedpur East Saryu Roy also wished him and offered sweets.