When the IPL 2026 mini-auction unfolded in Abu Dhabi, Vishal Nishad was not in a five-star hotel or surrounded by agents. The 20-year-old leg-spinner sat quietly at Kanpur’s Kamla Club, attending Uttar Pradesh’s camp for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. Like hundreds of hopefuls across the country, he watched the screen closely, knowing one raised paddle could change everything.
The first round passed. Then the next. Nishad went unsold and doubt crept in. But when Punjab Kings finally called his name in the third round and bid ₹30 lakh, the moment felt unreal. “This is life-changing for me,” Nishad told The Times of India after the auction.
His journey to the IPL began far from auction rooms and television cameras. Nishad grew up in a small village near Gorakhpur, where cricket was played with tennis balls on uneven grounds. For years, that was all he knew. A switch to leather-ball cricket seemed impossible, not because of talent, but because of money. “I didn’t have the money even to buy basic equipment,” he said.
A friend, Vineet Pandey, noticed his natural wrist position and kept pushing him to try proper cricket. After much persuasion, Nishad was taken to the Sanskriti Cricket Academy in Gorakhpur. Coach Kalyan Singh initially charged a fee, but when he learned about the family’s financial struggles, he waived it entirely. For three years, Nishad trained without paying a rupee.
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“I practised by borrowing everything, shoes, pads, bats from other players,” Nishad recalled. Slowly, the raw action turned into something more deceptive. The ball dipped late, spun differently, and often beat batters in the air.
The breakthrough came in 2024 during the Uttar Pradesh T20 League trials. Nishad did not even have money for travel. He borrowed ₹2,000 from a friend back home and went to Noida. In his first practice match, he took three wickets. He made the squad for Gorakhpur Lions and went on to pick up seven wickets in four matches that season. He followed it up with six wickets the next year.
That is when former Uttar Pradesh captain and Punjab Kings scout Ankit Rajpoot took notice. Rajpoot watched him closely and flagged his name to the Punjab Kings management. Nishad was also used as a net bowler during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where Punjab Kings assistant coach Trevor Gonsalves saw him bowl up close.
“What stood out was his unpredictability,” Rajpoot told Hindustan Times. “He has a mystery action. It’s difficult to read his release, and he can hit the stumps from different angles. That suits T20 cricket.”
Videos of Nishad’s bowling began circulating within franchise circles. Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting and bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule were convinced enough to take a chance. The ₹30 lakh bid was the result of months of quiet observation.
Back home, the amount meant everything. Nishad’s father works as a daily-wage labourer, juggling painting and masonry jobs. “We never imagined someone from our family would reach the IPL,” Nishad said. “Now I can finally support them.”
He has already joined the Uttar Pradesh camp for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, though a debut is not guaranteed yet. Nishad knows this is only the beginning. “If I get a chance, I’ll give my best,” he said.
Four years ago, he was still learning how to hold a leather ball. Today, he has an IPL contract in his name.
