An IPL contract would be very welcome: Paliwal

NEW DELHI: With stellar performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Deodhar Trophy, Services' Rajat Paliwal could not have asked for a better start to the limited-overs domestic season.
Paliwal, who in 2013 became the first player from Services to be named in the India A squad in over 15 years, scored over 400 runs at an average of 68, including two centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and a match-winning ton for North Zone in the Deodhar Trophy."This season was good for me. It felt good," Paliwal said.
However, the 22-yr-old lad from Sonepat, Haryana is despondent that he could not get a chance to play in the IPL – the IPL auctions ended even before the domestic one-day season started. "I was unlucky as our one-day season started in the last week of February while the auctions ended in the second week itself. If the bidding process had taken place now, I'm sure some teams would have shown interest in me. If I continue scoring big runs, my dream of playing in the IPL would surely come true," said Paliwal, whose dream is to don the Indian jersey. When asked if any of the IPL teams has ever showed interest in him, Paliwal said, "I have not been contacted by any team to play in the IPL. Yes, an IPL contract would be great. Thoda bahut dukh to hota hai (I do feel a little sad), but it is okay! I am not very disappointed or dejected."
He added: "I played better than most of the players in the North Zone team (Deodhar Trophy) this season. Most of the players in that team had IPL contracts. Their state associations are much more powerful than ours. Despite all that, I never felt any kind of complex," he added. Services cricket team represents the Indian armed forces.
However, Paliwal, a sergeant in the Indian Air Force, says playing in IPL should not be a problem. "Services will be more than happy if I get to play in the IPL," he said. When asked if switching teams would help him in securing an IPL contract, Paliwal said, "Services is a good team. The atmosphere here is friendly and relaxed. If I keep performing well, then am sure it will happen and I could even get to play for India. I don't think I need to quit Services. Our captain Yashpal Singh has already played in the IPL." Paliwal insisted that Services has produced some top players over the years, all capable of representing the country. "Yashpal, Shadab Nazar, Suraj Yadav and I keep motivating each other to perform well. We know if we keep up the good work, then our dreams will come true."