Kerala’s Salman Nizar stuns with 11 sixes in 13 balls, eyes IPL spotlight
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Thiruvananthapuram: Salman Nizar, renowned for his classical batting during Kerala’s runner-up finish in the last Ranji Trophy season, delivered an extraordinary performance in a Kerala Cricket League T20 match on Saturday, smashing 11 sixes off 13 balls, including a 40-run final over.
The 28-year-old left-hander, soon to join the South Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy semi-final, remained unbeaten on 86 off just 26 balls, hitting 12 sixes as his team, Calicut Globstars, defeated Adani Trivandrum Royals (ATR) by 13 runs. Globstars posted 186 for six and bowled out ATR for 173 in 19.3 overs.
Batting first, Calicut Globstars were struggling at 115 for six after 18 overs, with Salman on 17 off 13 balls, having hit only one six off Ajith Vasudevan. The 19th over bowled by Basil Thampi, part of India’s Nidahas Trophy-winning squad in 2018, completely shifted the game. Salman sent Thampi for five consecutive sixes, taking advantage of some shorter lengths.
Salman’s sixes came through a mix of strategic slashes over cover point and powerful drives over cow corner and long-on. Thampi conceded 65 runs in four overs, after giving away only 25 in his first three. Abhijeet Praveen bore the brunt of Salman’s late-innings assault, leaking 40 runs in the final over, while ATR skipper Krishna Prasad’s decision to hand him the ball instead of Nikhil M (3/20) backfired spectacularly.
Salman began the final over with a six off the first ball, followed by wides and a no-ball yielding three runs. The remaining five legal deliveries were dispatched for sixes, sealing a memorable finish.
This spectacular display is expected to catch the attention of IPL scouts, with Salman likely to feature on the wish-list of several franchises.
Earlier this year, in a Ranji Trophy quarter-final, Kerala were 200 for nine in their first innings chasing Jammu and Kashmir’s 280. Salman scored an unbeaten 112, helping Kerala secure a narrow one-run lead. Coincidentally, Basil Thampi, who supported Salman with 81 runs for the final wicket in that match, was also part of Saturday’s explosive partnership.
Salman Nizar’s performance reinforces his reputation as one of Kerala’s most promising T20 talents and strengthens his prospects for national recognition.
With PTI inputs
