Nathu Singh, a labourer’s son, in IPL rich club

On Saturday, the name Nathu Singh must have surprised all, except a few who have been following this young fast bowler from Rajasthan.

Singh, who made his debut in first-class cricket just four months ago, has been bought by the Mumbai Indians for Rs 3.2 crore, while his base price was just Rs 10 lakh.

The price may seem too much for a rookie but then the Mumbai Indians must have heard how the likes of Glenn McGrath, Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir had spoken about Singh to bid aggressively for him.

Until three years ago, Singh used to play gully cricket with a soft ball.

“I loved watching Shoaib Akhtar bowl. He was so quick. I watched him and decided that I wanted to bowl faster and break his record,” he had told BCCI.tv. That dream would have died if not for the backing of a few gully cricket mates who convinced his father about Singh’s potential. The father, who works in a wire factory as labourer, had no savings to spare, but he told Singh: “Whatever I have I will put in. Let’s see for two months how you do.”

Three years later, the gamble has paid off. Singh’s rise has been spectacular. Within months of joining a cricket academy run by former Rajasthan Ranji player Hemendra Surana, he was picked up for the under-19 team in 2013. He was then selected for the MRF Pace Foundation where he impressed Australian legend McGrath, who described him as the future of India’s fast bowling.

Last year, Singh was not just picked for the Ranji team but also in the playing XI. He took seven wickets in his debut against Delhi, which impressed Gautam Gambhir who saw India material in him. Soon, word spread and chief selector Sandeep Patil too went to watch him play.

Singh was chosen for the Board President’s XI for a warm-up match against South Africa within a month of his first-class debut.

With just six first-class matches under his belt, Singh has not just become a millionaire but, more importantly, he has got the chance to play in the IPL, which has become a launching pad for budding cricketers to get into Team India.

What remains to be seen is whether he will shine or fade away like Ashok Menaria and Deepak Chaher, who failed to maintain consistency after stunning debuts five years ago, or become the fourth from Rajasthan to play for India after Parthsarathy Sharma, Gagan Khoda and Pankaj Singh.