Vishal Nishad a 20, year, old mystery spinner from Uttar Pradesh became one of the most interesting and surprising uncapped picks of the IPL auction after Punjab Kings (PBKS) bought him for 30 lakh. Till a very short time ago Nishad was a mystery to the outside world of cricket beyond the regional circuit but the Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting and the franchise scouting team definitely saw the spark in the young bowler.
Vishal, coming from Madraha village, which is only 13 kilometres away from Gorakhpur, is a boy from a modest background. His father is a house painter and like a lot of small, town India kids, Vishal started his cricketing journey by playing tennis, ball cricket. It is quite amazing that he made the switch to the leather ball only four years back, which is considered a very late start in the professional world, but it did not take long for his fast development to be noticed.
Vishals breakthrough was in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League, where he played for the Gorakhpur Lions. He dazzled with his control and variations in the two seasons he was there, taking six wickets in his first campaign and eight in the next. He was cited for his performances, but still, an IPL contract looked like a dream far away.
The change was because of the hard work of ex, captain of Uttar Pradesh and now a scout of Punjab Kings, Ankit Rajpoot. Rajpoot, who is also the head coach of Gorakhpur Lions, gave a strong recommendation of Vishal to the PBKS management.
“Vishal impressed me from the very first trial ahead of the UPT20 League in 2024. I always believed he had the potential to reach the IPL,” Rajpoot said.
Before the auction, Vishal was tested further when he served as a net bowler for Andhra Pradesh during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Lucknow. Punjab Kings assistant coach and AP mentor Trevor Gonsalves closely observed him in the nets. Rajpoot’s detailed feedback, supported by videos and data, convinced Ricky Ponting and PBKS bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule to back the youngster.
What makes Vishal stand out is his bowling style. Rajpoot describes him as a mystery spinner in the mould of Varun Chakravarthy and Ajantha Mendis — difficult to read, unpredictable, and capable of hitting the stumps from almost anywhere.
“He has plenty of variations and his grip makes it hard for batters to read length and turn. That kind of unpredictability is ideal for T20 cricket,” Rajpoot added.
Following his IPL breakthrough, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association immediately asked Vishal to join the squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot. While he is yet to make his senior state debut, the young spinner remains hopeful.
“If given a chance, I will try to give my best,” Vishal said.
Vishal honors the redesign of his game by the said coaches namely Kalyan Singh, Ankit Rajpoot, and Moosi Raza. The Sanskriti Cricket Academy is the place where he got to know how to bowl with a leather ball a thing with which he met a lot of difficulties at first but very soon he managed to get the hang of it.
Financially, the ₹30 lakh IPL contract is life-changing for his family. “I have seen poverty. Now I can do something for my family. Everyone at home is very happy,” he said.
Though he hasn’t yet played for Uttar Pradesh at the senior level, Vishal dreams big. A passionate Virat Kohli fan, he hopes to represent his state and eventually wear India’s colours.
“For cricket, I left my studies after Class 12. I don’t miss Virat Kohli’s matches. One day, I would love to bowl to him,” Vishal said.
From a small village near Gorakhpur to the IPL stage, Vishal Nishad’s journey is a powerful reminder that talent, when matched with opportunity, can rise from anywhere.
