Once hailed by Shane Warne as a future star, this mystery pacer lit up IPL 2009 before slipping into cricketing oblivion
Did you know the first-ever Super Over in IPL history wasn't bowled by a seasoned pro but by a teenager with no first-class experience? Kamran Khan, a wiry left-arm pacer from Azamgarh, made headlines in 2009 under Shane Warne's watchful eye.
Kamran, the son of a woodcutter, had only played tennis-ball cricket before Warne scouted him during a suburban tournament in India. In the blink of an eye, he was on a flight to South Africa, holding a $24,000 IPL contract.
Credit: ESPN
In a nail-biting clash, one of Kamran's standout performances came against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Bowling the final over with only 7 runs to defend, Kamran dismissed Sourav Ganguly off the penultimate delivery.
Credit: ESPN
Though the match went into a Super Over, it was Kamran again who took the ball, bowling to none other than Chris Gayle. Gayle hit him for three fours — but Kamran had the last laugh, taking his wicket. The Rajasthan Royals won the game. A star was born — even if just for a season.
Credit: ESPN
Kamran finished IPL 2009 with 6 wickets in 5 matches and a tidy economy of 7.01. However, his form dipped in 2010. In 2011, he was selected by Pune Warriors India but played only one game — which was forgettable. He conceded 47 runs in three overs. That was the last we saw of him in the IPL.
Credit: Cricket Country
What followed was even more unusual. Kamran didn't make his first-class debut in India but in Sri Lanka — for Colts Cricket Club in 2013. Today, he's back where it all began — ruling the tennis-ball cricket scene and still unknown to a generation of new IPL fans.
