Mumbai Indians bought Digvijay Deshmukh for INR 20 Lakhs at the recently concluded IPL Auction 2020 in Kolkata. For those who have never heard of the Pune based fast bowler, Digvijay Deshmukh is the same kid from 2013 Bollywood film Kai Po Che’ where he played the role of 14-year-old Ali, around whom the plot of Sushant Singh-starrer movie revolved.
Deshmukh, 21, made his debut for Maharashtra in the 2019/20 season where he took 9 wickets in the 7 games he played in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Just after getting his maiden IPL call-up by MI on Thursday, Deshmukh starred on his Ranji Trophy debut as he picked up six wickets and scored 83 in Maharashtra second innings against Jammu and Kashmir.
Digvijay, who was 14 years old in Kai Po Che’ admitted that he never liked being branded as an actor and he always wanted to be a cricketer. Seven years later, Digvijay's dream seems to be coming true as he playing alongside the likes of world-class bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga.
Also Read: Full squads of 8 teams after Player Auction for IPL 2020
"Yes, I am Digvijay and I acted as Ali in that movie Kai Po Che. But I was never an actor and always a cricketer. Now I am slowly realising my dream," Digvijay told PTI.
"People would refer to me as an actor and I would be very angry. Mujhe gussa aata thaa. I did Kai Po Che because a lot of scenes were just about playing cricket. But staying outdoor for four months hampered my cricket and I didn't want that to happen ever again," Digvijay said.
"I got an opportunity to do a television commercial (advertisement) but I declined. My parents (father a school teacher and mother a homemaker) also supported me. I didn't want the focus to waver from the game."
Four-time champion Mumbai Indians roped in Australia's big-hitting opener Chris Lynn for Rs 2 crore. Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was signed for Rs 8 crore, was among the other notable buys.
Four-time champion Mumbai Indians signed Nathan Coulter-Nile for INR 8 crore and also roped in Australia's big-hitting opener Chris Lynn for Rs 2 crore.
Other than Digvijay, Mohsin Khan and Prince Balwant Rai Singh were the other two uncapped players signed by Mumbai Indians at their base prices.