“Learnt Leg-Spin Watching Shane Warne’s Videos,” Says “Self-Taught” Spin Sensation Nagaland’s Khrievitso Kense Who Eyes IPL Fame
Published - 15 Feb 2021, 07:52 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:41 AM
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16-year-old leg-spinner Khrievitso Kense is the youngest entrant into the IPL 2021 auction and is harboring hopes of landing a deal with any of the eight Indian Premier League franchise and gain valuable experience and riches from the most popular T20 league in the world.
Khrievitso Kense is the fifth amongst seven siblings, a son of a carpenter, who said that he has honed his leg-spin all by himself, by watching videos of Australian spin legend Shane Warne online. He has a base price of Rs 20 lakh and the buzz is that both the Mumbai Indians and the Rajasthan Royals are eyeing the youngest player in an auction pool of 292.
I Followed Shane Warne On TV And Phone:
“I was initially bowling off-spin. But my fingers started paining. Then I tried leg-spin. I didn’t have anyone to coach me. So I followed Shane Warne on TV and phone. I really liked the way he turned the ball. I never had a leg-spin coach, I learnt all by myself. There was a sir who would just guide me as I played U-16 cricket,” Khrievitso Kense told PTI.
He quickly rose up the ranks and last year, he got a call up for the senior team by Nagaland senior team captain Rongsen Jonathan and his deputy Hokaito Zhimomi. He impressed team coach and former Hyderabad spinner Kanwaljit Singh.
“He really impressed me with his trajectory which is ideally suited for any format of the game. I had difficulty in getting hold of his name so I started addressing him ‘Kriv’. Actually I call him by any name,” the Nagaland coach said recollecting the first time when he saw Kense in the trials.
Mumbai Indians And Rajasthan Royals Show Interest In Young Khrievitso Kense
The 16-year-old was handed a T20 debut for Nagaland against Arunachal Pradesh in the latest Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament and returned figures of 1/19 on his debut.
“I was never nervous but that was the only time I felt some pressure. But after I got the first wicket everything became normal,” Kense, who returned with a miserly 1/19 on his debut, told PTI.
He was also called for trials by Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals for trials last month before being included in the 292-strong IPL 2021 auction list. His Nagaland coach spoke about how IPL can help Khrievitso Kense develop his game further.
“IPL would be just the perfect beginning for him to make a mark. It would be a big moment for the state and personally give me a lot of satisfaction for I could not make it but at least I helped someone else,”Kanwaljit Singh said.
Khrievitso Kense further said that he idolizes Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, saying that he loved the way he utilizes the googly. He further mentioned that he is not thinking much about the upcoming IPL auction and is care-free, though he will be watching the auction with the entire team on February 18, from 3 PM onwards.
