Joshua Little is excited to play under Hardik Pandya for Gujarat Titans in the IPL 16.
Joshua Little scripted history on Friday (December 23), as the star pacer became the first Ireland cricketer to get an IPL contract after being signed up by the Gujarat Titans at the IPL 2023 auction.
Little was part of the CSK camp last year as a net bowler, but he left the side after not getting any opportunities, and now he finally managed to get his maiden IPL contract with the defending champion Gujarat Titans (GT) for the IPL 2023 on Friday, thanks to his performance in the T20 World Cup 2022.
Little thanked the GT for believing in him and offering him an "incredible opportunity" to play in the high-profile T20 league after signing his first IPL contract, expressing his excitement to play in the IPL 16 under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya and coach Ashish Nehra.
Notably, GT acquired the services of the 23-year-old pacer for Rs 4.4 crore at the IPL 2023 auction in Kochi on Friday. He has so far played 22 ODIs and 53 T20Is for Ireland since making his debut in 2016.
Little said in Cricket Ireland statement: “I’m delighted to have been signed by the defending champions, the Gujarat Titans, and look forward to playing under Hardik Pandya within such a high-quality squad. I am also looking forward to working with coach Ashish Nehra and would like to thank the management team at the Titans for believing in me.”
The star pacer continued, “I have loved playing international cricket for Ireland – and that will always remain my priority, but to be able to learn and play in the IPL will be an incredible opportunity and thanks to Cricket Ireland for supporting me in this.”
Meanwhile, Cricket Ireland’s High-Performance Director Richard Holdsworth stated: “We are delighted for Josh and wish him well in the IPL next year. Josh is a hard-working and dedicated athlete who has come up through the Irish system.”
Holdsworth concluded, “He has been an essential part of the Irish set-up for several years now and we believe his development will only accelerate further through involvement in the IPL.”
(With PTI Inputs)