The IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi has brought immense pride to Haryana, with two young talents from the state securing lucrative contracts. Hisar-based cricketer Daksh Kamra was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a sum of Rs 30 lakh, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Daksh Kamra's Journey to the IPL
Daksh Kamra, a 22-year-old resident of Multani Chowk in Hisar, has been dedicated to cricket for the past 11 years. His father, Rakesh Kamra, is in the building materials business, while his mother, Meenu, is a homemaker. His elder sister, Kashish, is pursuing an MBA in Delhi.
Daksh's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) degree, which he completed in 2023 from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology. His cricketing education, however, began at the Haryana Agricultural University under Coach Baljeet Girdhar.
He further refined his skills under the guidance of Hisar-based coaches Sandeep Kharb and Vikas Chaudhary. A crucial phase of his training involved spending approximately five years at a cricket academy in Shahabad under Coach Harjot Singh.
Player Profile and Auction Dynamics
According to his coach, Sandeep Kharb, Daksh is a right-arm leg-spinner and a capable middle-order batsman. Kharb revealed that while the Rajasthan Royals had shown initial interest in the player, it was the Kolkata Knight Riders who moved quickly to finalise the deal at Rs 30 lakh per season.
Daksh has represented Hisar district for several years and has been playing domestic cricket for Haryana for the last two seasons, building a solid foundation for his new challenge in the Indian Premier League.
Another Haryana Star: Kanishk Chauhan Joins RCB
The auction also shone a spotlight on another promising player from Haryana. Young cricketer Kanishk Chauhan from Sirsa district was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for an identical sum of Rs 30 lakh.
Chauhan, who originally hails from Jhajjar, is a proven performer on the international youth stage. He has represented India in the Under-19 category and was a recent participant in the Asia Cup.
His standout moment came in a match against Pakistan, where he scored 46 runs and took three wickets, delivering a match-winning performance and earning the Player of the Match award. He has also represented India Under-19 in tours of England and Australia, contributing to series victories in both countries.
His training base has been the Shah Satnam Ji Stadium in Sirsa, where he honed the skills that have now earned him a place in the prestigious IPL.
A New Chapter for Haryana Cricket
The success of Daksh Kamra and Kanishk Chauhan in the IPL 2026 mini-auction highlights the growing pipeline of cricket talent emerging from Haryana. Their journeys from local academies and domestic circuits to the glamour of the IPL underscore the importance of grassroots coaching and persistent hard work.
For Daksh, the contract with KKR is the culmination of over a decade of dedication. For fans in Hisar and across Haryana, it is a moment of celebration as their local heroes get ready to shine on one of the world's biggest cricketing platforms.
