Small-town rap

The GenNext of Indian cricket is coming from lesser-known places which makes their struggle to stardom all the more a difficult road, writes Chandresh Narayanan in the Times of India.

While Uttar Pradesh is turning out to be the big talent supplier, there are others like Mumbai left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah who have had to move out of this state to be noticed. Born in Azamgarh, Abdullah was spotted by his current coach, Mumbai-based Naushad Khan, in a club match.

Also read the story behind Praveen Kumar, the allrounder called up to the Indian one-day squad in the Indian Express and Cricinfo.