Pacer Josh Little, who has become the first cricketer from Ireland to land an IPL deal, termed it as an “incredible opportunity” to play in the lucrative league where he will get to work with India all-rounder Hardik Pandya and head coach Ashish Nehra.

Defending champions Gujarat Titans availed the services of the 23-year-old for Rs 4.4 crore — more than eight times his base price of Rs 50 lakh — at the IPL auction in Kochi on Friday.

The Titans, led by Hardik and coached by former India pacer Nehra, won the league in their debut season.

“I’m delighted to have been signed by the defending champions, the Gujarat Titans, and look forward to playing under Hardik Pandya within such a high-quality squad,” Little said in a statement released by Cricket Ireland.

“I am also looking forward to working with coach Ashish Nehra and would like to thank the management team at the Titans for believing in me,” he added.

The left-arm seamer made his international debut in 2016 and has since played 22 ODIs and 53 T20Is. Little’s potential came to the forefront when he took 4/45 on his ODI debut against England in May 2019.

Eoin Morgan was one of his victims that day. Morgan, by the way, is the only other Irish-born cricketer to feature in the IPL, though he was playing for England during the years of his association with the Indian franchise league.

“I have loved playing international cricket for Ireland — and that will always remain my priority, but to be able to learn and play in the IPL will be an incredible opportunity and thanks to Cricket Ireland for supporting me in this.”

Little had served as a net bowler for Chennai Super Kings last year.

Hardik Pandya. AP/PTI & Getty Images

He had claimed a memorable hat-trick against New Zealand in Ireland’s T20 World Cup loss in Adelaide earlier this year. He had dismissed skipper Kane Williamson, James Neesham and Mitchell Santner in the 19th over.

“We are delighted for Josh and wish him well in the IPL next year. Josh is a hard-working and dedicated athlete who has come up through the Irish system,” Cricket Ireland’s High Performance Director Richard Holdsworth said.

“He has been an essential part of the Irish set-up for several years now and we believe his development will only accelerate further through involvement in the IPL.”

Little has plied his trade in several franchise leagues such as England’s The Hundred and Lanka Premier League.

He was also picked up in the Pakistan Super League draft recently.

Written with inputs from PTI