Meet the ‘Kohli’ of UAE who will play for Gujarat Lions in IPL 2017

Chirag’s family had migrated to Dubai in 2001 from Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh area. He has already earned his national cap in the senior team during the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia.

Do you know that there is an Indian-born UAE cricketer, who will play for the Gujarat Lions in the 10^th edition of the IPL? In case you did not know, Suri was picked up by Gujarat Lions for a bargain price of just ₹ 10 lakh at the IPL 2017 auction. He is also popularly known as the Virat Kohli of UAE.

Suri probably never imagined while he had sent his name to the IPL auction pool that he would be representing one of the teams in the most premier T20 league of the world.

Chirag’s family had migrated to Dubai in 2001 from Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh area. Ever since then Suri has focussed on the game and he was selected to represent the UAE’s national side in the Under-19 Asian Associates tournaments in Thailand and Malaysia.

He has already earned his national cap in the senior team during the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia. His aggressive batting style and the way he emulates Kohli makes his teammates call him that name.

"I was very keen and sent my name. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) also pushed forward application. My coaches, my family have all played a big role in this and for shaping my career. I, unfortunately didn't have good performances with the UAE team but former UAE coach Aaqib Javed and Owais Shah felt I would play in the IPL," Suri was quoted as saying by The Khaleej Times.

"I broke down with my family. It was a very emotional moment. I'm very happy as I have been working hard for a few years.”

Suri is very much aware of the fact that IPL is huge and this is indeed a great opportunity for him to prove his mettle.