Zeeshan Ansari, the 25-year-old leg-spinner from Lucknow, made an unforgettable Indian Premier League (IPL) debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday, delivering a match-defining spell against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
Picked for ₹40 lakhs in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Zeeshan replaced Simarjeet Singh in the playing XII as a tactical inclusion by SRH captain Pat Cummins, who elected to bat first after winning the toss.
Zeeshan Ansari’s Dream Debut: 3 Wickets in 3 Overs
Zeeshan Ansari turned the game on its head during his spell, claiming three major wickets in just three overs:
- Faf du Plessis (50 off 27): Removed the DC opener just after his half-century with a breakthrough in his second over.
- Jake Fraser-McGurk: Caught and bowled on the final ball of the same over.
- KL Rahul (15 off 5): Bowled around the legs while attempting a sweep in Zeeshan’s third over.
From 81/0, DC quickly lost momentum, largely due to Zeeshan’s clever variations and fearless approach on debut.
From U-19 World Cup to IPL Stage
Zeeshan was a part of the India U-19 team in the 2016 World Cup, playing alongside future stars like Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan. While his T20 career didn’t take off immediately—he played just one T20 for Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy—his performances in recent months made a strong case for his IPL call-up.
UP T20 League Heroics
Zeeshan’s standout moment came in the 2024 Uttar Pradesh T20 League, where he starred for Meerut Mavericks:
- 24 wickets in 12 innings
- Tournament’s highest wicket-taker
- Instrumental in Meerut’s title-winning campaign
- Included a five-wicket haul
His exploits in the league caught the attention of SRH scouts, earning him a spot in one of the IPL’s most dynamic squads.
First-Class Record at a Glance
Though his T20 stats are limited, Zeeshan has made his mark in the longer format:
- 5 First-Class matches
- 17 wickets
- 523 runs, showing glimpses of all-round ability
Zeeshan Ansari’s Arrival on the Big Stage
Zeeshan Ansari IPL debut couldn’t have been more impressive. His triple strike against DC’s top order has not only given SRH a valuable asset but has also introduced a new spin prospect to watch out for in IPL 2025. With confidence, control, and composure, Zeeshan may have just spun his way into a permanent role in SRH’s campaign.
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