Ticket prices at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium ticket slashed, a hat-trick boy’s dream, and who is Srikar Bharat?

 By K.R. Nayar

The lowering of ticket rates at Sharjah is set to excite fans. Hat-trick boy Harshal Patel achieves his dream, and who is Srikar Bharat who came out to bat in the No.1 slot ahead of even AB De Villiers and Glenn Maxwell for Royal Challengers Bangalore?

New ticket rates for the IPL matches at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium 

There is happy news for cricket fans wanting to watch the Indian Premier League matches from the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Ticket rates have been slashed for the oncoming matches to be held at this ground.

Speaking to cricketlovers.com Mazhar Khan, General Manager of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, said: “Ticket prices for matches to be held at the Sharjah stadium have been reduced by 40 to 50 percent from the original rates. However, PCR would be required for entry to these stands.”

Hospitality ticket pricing

This should be a relief for all fans since it was turning out to be an expensive affair if they would have had to pay the original ticket rates as well as for the PCR test.  The reduced price can now help many to cover that cost and enjoy the match. Despite the mandatory PCR Test requirement, it was a full house for the opening match on Friday between Royal Challengers and Chennai Super Kings. The next match at the Sharjah will be on September 28, 2021, between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals.

Harshal Patel never had a hat-trick even in school game!

Youngsters who have always dreamed of getting a hat-trick and never got one even in a game at school, need not worry. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s medium pacer Harshal Patel, who produced a hat-trick against Mumbai Indians on Sunday (September 26, 2021), had never got a hat-trick even in a school game or in any of the matches he has played before. He finally fulfilled his dream and that too in one of the biggest franchise leagues in the world and against the formidable Mumbai Indians. His victims were Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Rahul Chahar. 

The joy of a hat-trick. Photo: RCB Twitter 

During the post-match press conference, speaking about his hat-trick, he said: “This is the first time ever in my life, literally the first time ever. I have never got a hat-trick even in a school game. Earlier in the IPL, I was close to a hat-trick five times before, and I got lucky the sixth time to finally get my hat-trick.” His remark only goes to prove that cricket does oblige those who keep trying. So while it is appropriate to address him as ‘Hat-trick Patel’, teammates now address him as ‘Mr. Purple Patel’ since he is the leading wicket-taker in the IPL so far and holds the purple cap for that achievement.

Bharat’s rise from a ball boy to first wicketkeeper hit a triple century

As soon as Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their opener Devdutt Padikkal, in walked Srikar Bharat. Fans wondered who this batsman was since he was sent above some of the great batsmen like AB De Villiers and Glenn Maxwell! But he proved himself worthy of that position with a 74 runs partnership with his skipper Virat Kohli. Bharat played some lovely shots in his 32 runs with two boundaries and two sixes. 

Srikar Bharat (left) with Virat Kohli. Photo: RCB Twitter 

A shot that he played off Jasprit Bumrah - on the up through the cover and point by slightly opening the bat – revealed  that he deserved to come in at the one-down position. This 27-year-old was born in Visakhapatnam, and in 2004, he was a ball boy and happened to share the dressing room with Indian pacer Zaheer Khan during the IPL. He made his first class debut against Kerala at the age of 19 in Cuddapah on December 29, 2012, and in 2014-15 season he piled up 758 runs in Ranji Trophy to catch the attention of Delhi Daredevils for an IPL contract. He was the first wicketkeeper to score a triple century in Ranji Trophy.

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