Fans keen to watch Nehal Wadhera in IPL season

As Nehal Wadhera, the talented cricketer from Ludhiana, prepares for the upcoming IPL season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), fans are eagerly anticipating his performance. The 24-year-old made headlines with his selection by PBKS for a staggering Rs 4.20 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, held in December at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Wadhera, a stylish left-handed middle-order batsman and right-arm leg-spin bowler, was picked by PBKS on the second and final day of the IPL Auction, marking a major leap in his career. This selection came after his two-year stint with Mumbai Indians, where he played at the base price of Rs 20 lakh.

A graduate of Satish Chander Dhawan (SCD) Government College in Ludhiana, Nehal has been a consistent performer throughout his career. He represented Punjab in the U-14 and U-16 categories for two years and was also a part of the state’s U-19 team. His consistent performances on the domestic circuit made him a standout prospect for PBKS.

Nehal’s impressive selection for such a significant price at the auction underscores the faith PBKS has in his abilities. The notable salary increase from his previous contract with Mumbai Indians signals the high expectations surrounding his potential to become a key player for the team.

In 2019, Nehal was selected for the Indian U-19 team for their tour of Sri Lanka. Later that year, he represented India in a tri-nation series in Trivandrum, featuring South Africa and Afghanistan. His talent on the field continued to shine, particularly in domestic tournaments.

Two years ago, Nehal made history by smashing 578 runs in a match against Bathinda in the Inter-District U-23 Cricket Championship. His record-breaking innings is one of the highest ever scores in long-format cricket. For this achievement, he was awarded a cash prize of Rs 51,000 by the Punjab Cricket Association.

Nehal also made waves in the 26th All JP Attray Memorial ODI Cricket Tournament in September 2021. Scoring 171 runs against RBI Mumbai, he led Punjab to victory and set a new tournament record for the highest score. Nehal told The Tribune, “PBKS have shown faith in me, and I am willing to repay that trust by contributing to steer the team to new heights.”