Just a day before the big IPL final, the young and talented Delhi batsman Deepak Khattri showed the IPL players that how an IPL final should be. Deepak Khattri registered his name in the history books as during a match of Lala Raghubir Singh tournament on May 28 Deepak took on the left arm chinaman bowler Milind Tandon and sent him over the ropes six times in the over. At the start of the over Deepak was batting on the score of 78 but at the end of the over, he found himself batting at 114. He even crossed the hundred run mark with a six.
“I just concentrated on making some quick runs, After the fourth six, I thought I had a chance to make it six in a row,” said an amused Khattri. He now joins the list of players who have smashed six sixes in an over. Yuvraj Singh and Ravi Shastri are the only Indians in the list.
Deepak Khattri is one of the products of Madan Sharma’s academy who has also the trained Shikhar Dhawan at one level. This was probably the best place for Khattri to make name and fame for himself to get selected in the Delhi squad for the upcoming domestic season as Lala Raghubir Singh Tournament is one of the oldest tournament that is still played in Delhi. It is also one of the few tournaments which are affiliated to D.D.C.A.
Lala Raghubir Singh hot weather tournament is played every year during the month of May-June in capital state Delhi. The tournament is organised in the premises of the modern school. Legendary players like Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, Virender Sehwag and many former Ranji cricketers from all over North India have marked their presence in this tournament. Players like Gautam Gambhir, Unmukt Chand, Pawan Negi, Nitish Rana (Mumbai Indians) and many Ranji cricketers still actively take part in this tournament as this is one of the premier tournaments which are still played. The final of the tournament is televised on DD Sports every year. Winner team gets a cash price of Rs. 2 Lakhs.
Four years ago in the year 2012, the tournament was surrounded by controversy as Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik participated in one of the matches without informing BCCI. According to the rule, no foreign player is allowed to participate in any Indian tournament except IPL.