Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, first ICL rebel in IPL fold

Abhishek Jhunjhunwala has become the first ICL ‘rebel’ from Bengal to be roped in by an IPL franchisee. 

The talented middle-order batsman will be donning Team Jaipur colours during next year’s IPL-III.

Jhunjhunwala attended a week-long camp organised by the IPL-I champions at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Stadium under the supervision of Darren Berry, director, cricket operations, and former Team India physio John Gloster.

The camp, which ended on Wednesday, was arranged to prepare the cricketers for Team Jaipur’s Twenty20 clash with English T20 champions Middlesex Panthers at Lord’s on Monday.

It has been learnt that Jhunjhunwala has made the cut for the match against Middlesex. Another ICL player Faiz Fazal has also been included in the England-bound 14-member squad.

The new boys are expected to sign across the dotted line after the Middlesex match. Jhunjhunwala was playing league cricket in Essex when he was summoned for Team Jaipur trials.

Captain-cum-coach Shane Warne didn’t attend the camp and will join the squad directly in London, but the likes of former India player Mohammad Kaif and Siddharth Trivedi were there at the camp.

According to team sources, Jhunjhunwala’s performance during training and four practice matches impressed Berry. He was then asked to undergo the routine fitness test which he passed.

Jhunjhunwala has played 15 first-class matches (872 runs @ 37.91) for Bengal and East Zone before he signed to play for Royal Bengal Tigers in the ICL.

He scored 615 runs for the ICL outfit with three half-centuries and also took four wickets with his fastish off-breaks. A brilliant fielder, he also took 12 catches and effected six run-outs.