Ten days and a phone call ago, K.K. Jiyas was just another young lad from the village of Narikkuni in Kozhikode with a passion for cricket.
Now, the 24-year-old will be part of the Indian Premier League with the Delhi Daredevils team this year.
On his way to Kanpur as part of the Kerala Under-23 team for the semi final against Uttar Pradesh on Thursday for the C.K. Naidu Trophy, Jiyas had only his fellow teammates to share the joy with.
“I am lost for words. My life has changed in a span of just ten days,” he told The Hindu . It was just ten days ago that a scout from the Delhi team had come down to watch his left arm chinaman bowling and went back duly impressed and made him part of the franchise for Rs 10 lakh. .
Though from Kozhikode, Jiyas now considers himself a part of Kochi city after having played for MPG Cricket Academy for the last seven years. “He is a very hardworking and committed player who has developed really well since joining us,” said P. Sivakumar, chairman of the Academy. Abdul Latheef, Jiyas’ father who drives a cab for a living, was equally ecstatic. “He has been hooked to the game since ages. The only time I was a bit apprehensive about his passion for the game was during his Class 10 days when I feared it would affect his studies. But then I realised that cricket was his world,” he said.
Jiyas, known to his friends as “Kerala Maxwell” for his looks similar to the Aussie batsman Glen Maxwell, now has only one prayer: to do well when he gets to play on the Delhi team.
