Cricket dreams change lives for youngsters from small towns regularly. Vishal Nishad’s story represents hope for millions across India. The 20-year-old mystery spinner comes from humble beginnings in Gorakhpur. His journey from tennis-ball cricket to IPL inspires everyone. This 2026 season marks the beginning of something truly special.
Vishal Nishad: From Madraha to IPL
Vishal Nishad hails from Madraha village near Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. His father works as a painter supporting the family. Financial struggles never stopped their cricket dreams though. His brothers and father played tennis-ball cricket passionately.
Just four years ago, he switched to leather-ball cricket. A friend introduced him to coach Kalyan Singh then. Sanskriti Cricket Academy became his training ground from that day. Initially, gripping the leather ball felt incredibly difficult for him.
However, he adapted quickly showing natural talent throughout. The UPT20 League finally gave him his breakthrough platform. Gorakhpur Lions trusted him and he delivered brilliantly there. Six wickets came in his first season impressively.
His IPL Price Details
The IPL mini-auction happened in Abu Dhabi in December 2025. He went unsold in the initial rounds disappointingly first. However, the Punjab Kings picked him in the third round surprisingly. They paid ₹30 lakh for this uncapped mystery spinner.
His IPL price might seem modest compared to stars. However, it changed his family’s life completely overnight. He learned cricket could be lucrative only recently honestly. The price reflects his potential rather than his proven records.
His IPL Team Journey
Vishal Nishad joins the Punjab Kings for his debut season. His IPL team reached the finals in 2025 recently. Ricky Ponting approved his selection after watching trials personally. The franchise believes his mystery spin adds crucial variety.
Working with Ponting will accelerate his development tremendously. His IPL team expects him to deliver tight overs regularly. They see him as a long-term investment for the future. The team gave this village boy his dream chance.
The Mentors Who Changed Everything
Ankit Rajpoot spotted Vishal Nishad during the 2024 trials fortunately. The former Uttar Pradesh skipper coaches Gorakhpur Lions now. He also scouts for the Punjab Kings. That helped tremendously. Rajpoot saw something special that nobody else noticed initially.
He compared Nishad’s bowling to Varun Chakravarthy and Ajantha Mendis. Mystery spinners remain rare finds in modern cricket nowadays. His unpredictable variations trouble batters’ reading lengths correctly. The ability to hit stumps from anywhere makes him dangerous.
Rajpoot recommended him strongly to Ricky Ponting personally. Nishad served as the net bowler for Andhra Pradesh first. Punjab Kings’ Trevor Gonsalves watched him bowl there closely. That exposure opened doors to bigger opportunities eventually.
Vishal quit studies after 12th grade for cricket. He idolises Virat Kohli and dreams of bowling to him. Playing for Uttar Pradesh in 2026 remains his immediate goal currently.
