Mumbai Indians' INR 5.2 crore buy nearly left cricket for Canada, father warned 'You're destroying his future'

Naman played in 7 matches for MI in IPL 2024, scoring a total of 140 runs with a highest score of 62 not out. However, what might surprise you is that just two years ago, the 24-year-old was on the verge of giving up his cricket career altogether. Despite previously representing Punjab at the Under-16 level, Naman's talents went unnoticed, leaving his career at a standstill. Frustrated and feeling hopeless, he even applied for permanent residence in Canada as a last resort.

"Half of the Punjab wants to move to Canada and I was also one of them. In early 2022, I almost gave up on cricket. My sister lives in Edmonton, Canada and I was planning to move there. My father said give yourself one year. I did, and in December 2022, made my Ranji Trophy debut. A year later, in 2023 Mumbai Indians picked me," Naman told The Indian Express.

Naman's father, Naresh, helped him make the right decision to stick by cricket. Working at a medical shop in Faridkot district, Naresh pushed Naman to try for another year.

."When I used to go to his school and take him out for his cricket practice, the principal ma'am used to say 'Dhir sir… you are ruining his career. No one has represented Punjab from Faridkot, forget India.' Once this taunt became regular, I told Naman one day 'Once you will come on TV hitting sixes these taunts will turn into claps,'" Naresh recalls while speaking to the Daily.

Naman's penchant for sixes was visible when MI took on Lucknow Super Giants earlier this year, with the youngster smashing five sixes during his knock of 62 off 28 balls. He couldn't quite get Mumbai Indians over the line as they fell short by 18 runs, but Naman had grabbed the attention of the onlookers.

Naman may not have triggered a bidding war, per se, but he did attract the interest of Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Excitement grew as all four franchises kept raising the paddle for him before MI jumped in at the right time and exercised their Right to Match card to keep him.

"My heart was pumping. I had a decent season with MI last year. I was hopeful that I would get an IPL contract, but never in the wildest imagination did it cross my mind that I would get this much money," he added.

Naman is currently playing for Rajkot in the Syed Mushtaq Ali, and although he has scored 12 and 13 in two matches, the belief is that bigger things await.