Rs3.5-cr IPL 2013 star bowls 17-ball over, 10 wides

Abhishek Nayar, a Mumbai all-rounder, has just equalled a record in cricketing history – something that he won’t be very proud of.

Nayar, who was bought for a whopping Rs3.5 crore (Dh2.37 million) by Pune Warriors in the IPL auction in February, sent down 10 wides and a no-ball in a 17-ball over in the semi-final of the inter-zone Deodhar Trophy.

With this, he equals the record of Pakistan quick Mohammad Sami, who holds the record for ODIs, with his famous 17-ball over against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match in 2004.

Interestingly, Nayar clean-bowled Hanuma Vihari on the first bowl of his infamous over, and the second bowl was a legal delivery too. The wide-fest began third delivery onwards, when a close margin call went against Nayar.

What followed was downright hilarious. Bowls number 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 were all wides. Incidentally, he also bowled a no-ball in the same over.

And if this wasn’t enough, the star said after the end of the match – which his team won despite his histrionics with the ball – that he’s happy with his figures for the day.

“These things happen,” Nayar told Mumbai Mirror. “I had a bad day, and I was not provoked by the umpire’s call [the first marginal wide that could have gone either way]. I was a little rusty initially but I’m happy with my figures for the day.”

Of course, Nayar is a much better batsman, and a swashbuckling one on that. But if his recent run with the ball is any indication, Yuvraj Singh, Pune Warriors’ captain, will do well to keep Nayar’s bowling arm tied behind his back in the forthcoming IPL 2013 T20 extravaganza.