Prashant Veer’s journey from village cricket fields to IPL stardom:Rises from ₹10 reward to ₹14 crore CSK deal; inspires Amethi village

‘When Prashant was just 10, he played a match so well that a neighbour, Monu Singh, rewarded him with ₹10. He came home proudly and told his father that he only wanted to play cricket,’ recalls Dr S.K. Tripathi, Prashant Veer’s uncle. ‘His father encouraged him. Today, that same boy has been bought by CSK for ₹14.20 crore. It is a matter of pride for all of us.’ These words capture the journey of 20-year-old Prashant Veer, whose home in Amethi is currently filled with celebration. Neighbours, relatives and friends are arriving to congratulate the family, sharing memories of his struggles and achievements. Village celebrates its star Prashant’s home is in Gunjipur village, around 15 kilometres from the Amethi district headquarters. Reaching the house requires navigating a broken road. Outside, his father Ramendra Tripathi sits with villagers, while women from the neighbourhood gather inside, discussing the historic IPL auction. The joy is most visible on the face of Prashant’s grandmother, Mithilesh Kumari. ‘I feel extremely happy,’ she says. ‘My grandson has reached a very high position. I never imagined such a big amount. I hope he goes even further.’ Modest home, rich with memories Prashant’s house is a single-storey structure. In the first room, shelves and corners are filled with trophies, Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards from local tournaments, photographs of Prashant with his family line the walls. The room, however, bears signs of hardship. Damp patches mark the walls, and the ceiling plaster is peeling in places, seemingly covered with paint as a temporary fix. With Prashant’s selection at such a high price, the family hopes these long-pending repairs will now finally be possible. A Father’s sacrifice and support Prashant’s father, Ramendra Tripathi, worked as a Shikshamitra (contract teacher) from 2008. In June this year, he quit his job and took up farming. Today, he speaks with pride about his son. ‘I also played cricket,’ he says. ‘First with a leather ball, then with a tennis ball. When Prashant started playing seriously, I stopped.’ He recalls that Prashant was quick in both batting and bowling from the beginning. Ramendra remembers a defining moment when Prashant was 14. ‘His team reached the final of a local tournament. He played brilliantly and was named Man of the Series. After that, he told me he wanted to learn cricket properly. We agreed.’ Prashant began training at Ambedkar Maidan in Amethi under the guidance of coach Ghalib Ansari. Later, he was selected for Mainpuri Sports School. When asked about franchise preference, Ramendra says it did not matter. ‘He admired Dhoni, so going to CSK made him happy.’ The ₹10 that changed everything Dr S.K. Tripathi, a doctor by profession, recalls how a small moment shaped Prashant’s future. ‘He was good at studies, but cricket changed his focus. When Monu Singh rewarded him with ₹10, he was thrilled. That day, he decided cricket would be his life.’ Tripathi adds that Prashant’s strong physique came from family support. ‘My elder brother even brought a cow home so the children could drink milk and become stronger. Today, the younger son also plays good cricket.’ A mother who watched from afar Prashant’s mother, Anjana, a homemaker, describes the auction day as unreal. ‘People started gathering at home from 2 pm with mobiles and laptops. At 4 pm, they called me to sit as well.’ She watched in disbelief as the bidding rose from ₹30 lakh to ₹50 lakh, ₹70 lakh, ₹1 crore and beyond. ‘It felt like a dream. Finally, he went to Dhoni’s team for ₹14 crore 20 lakh.’ Anjana admits she has never watched her son play live. ‘I feel nervous. I fear he will get out quickly. I only hear from others that he played well, and that makes me happy.’ ‘There is no player like him nearby’ Friends and villagers speak of Prashant in awe. Sanjeev Kumar, a childhood friend, says, ‘Even if 120 runs were needed in six overs, he would score them alone. He could hit a six wherever you told him.’ Prashant excelled with both tennis and leather balls. Initially a fast bowler, he later transitioned into spin bowling. ‘He bowled so fast that batsmen couldn’t play him,’ Sanjeev says. 5 teams, 1 fierce battle Prashant has not yet played international cricket. His base price in the IPL auction was ₹30 lakh. Lucknow and Mumbai began the bidding, followed by Chennai. Mumbai exited at ₹4 crore, Rajasthan pushed it to ₹6 crore, and then Hyderabad joined the contest. The final battle was between Hyderabad and Chennai. Eventually, CSK secured Prashant Veer for ₹14.20 crore, a remarkable end to a journey that began with a ₹10 reward and unwavering dedication.