Deccan Chargers sign Kenya's Mishra as "Indian"

 

Deccan Chargers have signed five Indian uncapped cricketers for the 2012 IPL, one of whom is Tanmay Mishra, who plays for Kenya. Mishra, who was born in Mumbai, has never played a first-class or List A game for any Indian side; but a spokesperson for Chargers explained that since he holds an Indian passport*, Mishra is eligible to be bought as an Indian uncapped player.

This also means Mishra will not have to be counted among the four foreign players each franchise is allowed to play in an IPL game.

Chargers have also signed Uttar Pradesh batsman Tanmay Srivastava, who was part of the now dissolved Kochi Tuskers Kerala last year, Orissa batsman Biplab Samantray, Madhya Pradesh medium-pacer TP Sudhindra and 21-year-old Hyderabad opening batsman Akshath Reddy.

Mishra, a 25-year-old middle-order batsman, was one of the few bright spots for Kenya during the 2011 World Cup; he scored two half-centuries, including an innings of 72 against Australia in Bangalore. On the day Chargers announced they had signed him, Mishra scored 70 not out in Kenya's win against Ireland in a World Cricket League Championship in Mombasa.

Reddy and Sudhindra have both earned IPL contracts on the back of impressive Ranji seasons. Sudhindra was the leading wicket-taker in the Elite division with 40 wickets at an average of 18.70. Reddy, in his second season, scored 524 runs at an average of 65.50, with three centuries.

Samantray scored his maiden first-class century in the 2011-12 Ranji season, an innings of 171 against Uttar Pradesh, while Srivastava, at just 22 years old, has already played 45 first-class matches and 26 List A matches, and has six centuries in each format. He played seven matches for Kings XI Punjab spread across the 2008 and 2009 editions of the IPL, but did not have much chance to contribute with the bat.

* February 18, 2012 18:16 GMT: This article said Tanmay Mishra held dual citizenship of India and Kenya. This has been corrected.