The Mumbai Indians (MI) have developed a knack for discovering hidden talents in cricket auctions, and Shivalik Sharma from Baroda could be their next potential find. MI’s scouting network is one of the best in the cricketing fraternity and have established themselves as a true stamp mark for future superstars. Shivalik Sharma is tipped to be the next big thing in World cricket.
Despite having played only 10 T20 games for Baroda, MI sees considerable promise in the left-handed batsman, prompting them to bring him into their squad. Interestingly, Shivalik faced an initial setback during the auction as his name appeared only towards the end during the accelerated round. Shivalik was disappointed after he was not selected initially and almost gave up his hope.
I thought I wasn’t going to get picked- Shivalik Sharma
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Shivalik Sharma shared insights into his auction experience. He revealed that it was his family who told him to keep believing and eventually MI raised the paddle for him. Shivalik expressed his excitement,
“Initially my name didn’t come up in the first round and so I thought I wasn’t going to get picked. There was an accelerated round but I didn’t have any hopes. My family persuaded me to keep believing and then finally when my name came and I was picked, everyone was thrilled,” said Shivalik Sharma.
“I wasn’t as emotional as I couldn’t believe at first that I was picked. For the next couple of days, it took time to let it sink in that Mumbai Indians have picked me,” he added.
I had no clue I was going to be picked by the Mumbai Indians- Shivalik Sharma
Reflecting on his journey, Shivalik Sharma spoke about the experience after being called up for the Mumbai Indians trials. He highlighted the significant role played by former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More, who is a key part of the Mumbai Indians’ talent identification team. Shivalik further said More backed the young left-handed batsman, encouraging him to trust and stay true to his game during the trials.
Shivalik said,
“Yes MI did call me for trials and there was everyone there. Kiran More sir motivated me a lot and backed me to do well. I got confidence when he told me to keep doing what I have done till now and not take any pressure,”
“Although I performed well in the trials, I had no clue I was going to be picked by the Mumbai Indians. So it was like a great surprise for me,”
My confidence went to the next level when I performed in SMAT- Shivalik Sharma
Despite the limited sample size of Shivalik Sharma’s performances, the left-handed batsman expresses gratitude for being able to contribute in valuable ways to his team. In the eight innings during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2023, Shivalik amassed 114 runs from 85 deliveries at a striking rate of 134.11.
Additionally, he notched up 167 runs in six matches during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023, featuring a notable half-century. Reflecting on these accomplishments, Shivalik Sharma shared his thoughts, saying,
“My confidence went to the next level when I performed in SMAT. I got this belief that I belonged to this level. The mindset from my end has always been strong and I have always wanted to keep growing by performing not just in SMAT, but also in Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy and work towards my dream. I am really grateful to God for the good things that have happened to me of late,”
Yastika Bhatia and I share a great bond- Shivalik Sharma
Yastika Bhatia, a fellow cricketer from Baroda who made her mark with the Mumbai Indians, has been a source of inspiration for Shivalik Sharma since their shared journey in age-group cricket for the same club. Highlighting the influence of Yastika on his work ethic, Shivalik expressed how her dedication and hard work motivated him to strive for excellence.
“Yastika and I played for the same club and naturally we share a great bond. She had called me to congratulate me as soon as I was picked for MI. The way her work ethic is and the way she prepares herself for matches is an inspiration to me,” said Shivalik Sharma.
“We both have backed each other all the time during good and bad times. So it’s actually nice that we both play for Mumbai Indians,” he added.
The 25-year-old is filled with excitement as he anticipates the upcoming IPL 2024 season.