Want To Impress IPL Teams And Hope To Get A Contract - Salman Khan

Rajasthan cricketer Salman Khan expressed his desire to play in the Indian Premier League just like any aspiring player in a cricket-obsessed nation. Salman has played 12 first-class, 23 List A, and 12 T20 games for his state team in the domestic level cricket.

Just like the Indian film industry, cricket also has its own Shahrukh Khan and Salman, who are in the making of their careers. Shahrukh has been a household name for Tamil Nadu over the years, the 27-year-old guided his team to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the last season with a thrilling finish, a six on the final ball to beat arch-rivals Karnataka.

I also want to impress IPL teams: Salman Khan

Shahrukh also played for IPL franchise Punjab Kings in last two seasons, scoring 270 runs in 18 innings at an average of 19.29. Salman also aims to follow the footsteps of the Tamil Nadu all-rounder and talked about his own personal experience with cricket.

“I wish to impress a franchise in the IPL and hope to get a contract. Shahrukh is already playing and he is doing really well. I also want to impress IPL teams. I want to play IPL because you get to learn so much and share knowledge with cricketers from all over the world under one umbrella. IPL has helped a lot of cricketers. I am also looking forward to it,” Salman told TimesofIndia.com.

“I am really happy with my performance. I am young and I try to learn something every day. My coaches and seniors have helped me a lot in improving my batting. I do yoga and a lot of meditation, along with some exercises. Yoga and meditation have helped me a lot in taking my batting to another level,” Salman further said.

Salman hit 110 on Ranji debut for Rajasthan against Odisha in November 2016 and till date it remains to be his only hundred in all domestic level competitions. The 23-year-old said his father was very impressed with his maiden ton.

“I started playing cricket at the age of eight. I used to watch and observe some older kids playing on the nearby ground. I loved the excitement and the energy. That’s what inspired me to take up cricket. My father was impressed with my love for cricket. I was really happy to score a hundred in my debut match. My father distributed sweets in the locality,” Salman said. 

Rahul Dravid gave me a lot of tips: Salman Khan

Salman was part of the India U19 side for two Asia Cups in successive years and had the chance to play under Rahul Dravid, who was the then coach of the U19 team. Salman mentioned he gained a lot of knowledge from the former Indian skipper.

“I was part of the 2016 (Sri Lanka, which India won) and 2017 (Malaysia) Under-19 Asia Cup teams. I was also part of the India Under-19 team which toured England (2017). The most important thing I learned from Rahul sir is discipline. He gave me a lot of tips. He is the head coach of the Indian team now. I know he is very busy, but he replies whenever he sees my message. Such a great human being he is,” Salman said.

“He has helped me evolve into a decent cricketer. I took a lot of tips from him. He said hitting sixes and fours are important but rotating strike is more important than anything else. He taught me the importance of taking singles and doubles and taught me how singles and doubles can change the course of the game,” he added. 

Salman last played for Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021-22, amassing just 66 runs in four innings. He wasn’t part of the state team’s Ranji campaign this season with his last appearance in the red-ball format was made in 2020.

Also Read: Handling Young Players Is Rahul Dravid’s Greatest Strength – Sanjay Manjrekar