The new rookie pace sensation of J&K, Rasikh Salam, after undergoing trials with Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians has joined the J&K Under-19 squad in Jaipur for the ongoing Vinoo Mankad trophy tournament on Sunday.
Rasikh who hails from Ashmuji village of district Kulgam in South Kashmir underwent trials with Mumbai Indians on Saturday evening and is in contention for getting a place in IPL this season.
“Rasikh underwent trials and they were asked to bowl during day light as well as during evening by the coaching staff of Mumbai Indians, which he did, along with rest of the players who were called up for trials. In the night session, they were monitoring as to how the bowlers will bowl when the dew effect would be in place,” said a JKCA official.
“Mumbai Indians this season started trials for hunting new players early. They are keeping their options open for themselves and may go for bid for the players they have already seen in trials during auction. To get call for trials of an IPL side is big thing for a new cricketer like Rasikh Salam and he surely would have learned new things last evening during the trial,” the official added.
After the trials with Mumbai Indians, Rasikh on Sunday joined the J&K Under-19 team in Jaipur who are playing in Vinoo Mankad Trophy One-Day tournament.
Termed as the next big thing of J&K cricket after emerging through impressive performances in district-level tournament of J&K Cricket Association (JKCA), Rasikh Salam was inducted straight into J&K senior team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament on the instance of Irfan Pathan. The talented pacer was spotted during the tournament by Mumbai Indians spotters.
Without any prior experience of representing J&K, Rasikh made J&K debut by playing for senior side against Rajasthan and was able to pick one wicket in his first match. In the second match, he picked two wickets against a star-studded side Tamil Nadu. In both the matches, he left everyone impressed with his skill set and swing.
“He swings the ball both ways and has got brilliant slower one in his bag to trick any batsman. Everyone was impressed with his effort and talent and even umpires hailed the team management for giving chance to talented youngsters. Had catches not been dropped on his bowling, he would have picked at least six wickets in two matches,” said JK team official.
Rasikh made his way straight into J&K senior cricket team on the back of his impressive outing in J&K Premier League District level tournament. After performing well in district tournament, he was called up for Irfan Pathan talent hunt. In the trials he impressed J&K mentor-cum-player and was asked to attend the screening camps along with rest of the J&K top cricketers.
Rasikh kept his upward journey by picking a hat-trick in the practice match at Sheri-Kashmir Cricket Stadium and then was inducted into J&K senior team for Andhra Pradesh preparatory tour. It is said that Irfan Pathan spotted his talent early during the talent and insisted on his induction into J&K senior team in a meeting with selection committee. The impressive performance by the rookie pacer who has no solid cricketing background behind his back and now Mumbai Indians trial call up has only vindicated the faith put on him by Irfan Pathan, who otherwise was not even selected for J&K Under-19 team this year.