MI's most expensive buy JP Duminy can't wait to visit the city of dreams
MI's most expensive buy JP Duminy can't wait to visit the city of dreams
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When all the drama was unfolding at the second player auction of the IPL in Goa yesterday, Jean-Paul Duminy, bought for $950,000 by the Mumbai Indians, was fast asleep at his mother's home in Cape Town.
Surprise call
Surprised he was when his mobile began ringing around 10.30 am (IST) and he was soon fielding calls from friends, well-wishers and the media they almost camped at his doorsteps.
"What can I say?," were the first few words Duminy uttered after being told that he had been auctioned off for the massive fee the highest paid for a South African.
Jacques Kallis, who plays for Bangalore Royal Challengers, had fetched a $900,000 fee last year.
"It's amazing. I couldn't believe that I had gone for triple the amount that I was first told I'd receive for my services. But that's how it's ended up and I'm just delighted that I'll be going to Mumbai a place that has always been on my mind since I began travelling with the South African squad.
"I've never been there and I could not have asked for a better start than in a huge city like Mumbai with the Mumbai Indians, who have some of the world's leading players in Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya.
"It'll be an honour to play with these two world-class stars. For me, this will be a dream come true. I never thought I'd reach the heights that I have so quickly in my career. All I want to do now is concentrate on what I have to do, perform well and justify the fee that the owners of the Mumbai Indians have paid for me."
Rags to riches
For the youngster it has been a "rags to riches" story. Duminy has been one of those fringe players, who despite having a contract with Cricket South Africa, does not figure among the stars in the line-up with names like Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher or even Kallis.
But after his heroics in Australia, his shares have risen around the world. There's a bigger contract awaiting him from CSA and English counties are chasing him too.
And given the format of the IPL, there is no doubting the fact that he will excel.u00a0
Duminy, an affable youngster, rose to fame during South Africa's tour to Australia recently when he was drafted into the Test squad by default after vice-captain, Ashwell Prince, broke a finger ahead of the opening match in the three-Test encounter.
Fringe benefits
To say that he made the most of his first opportunity after sitting on the fringes for the last two and half years, would be putting it mildly.
"It was an opportunity the biggest I had been given in my short career. I had to take it in my stride and everything fell into place. It was like I had worked for it and the jig-saw came together," he said.
Duminy made an unbeaten half century to start with and then struck a huge century 166 in Melbourne when his side was in trouble and finished the series with 246 runs at an average of 61.50.
Then, in the T20 and the one-day series he tormented the Australians with his wristy display scoring runs freely and helping South Africa top a 4-1 series win.
"Yeah, it was great to be part of the side that brought the Australians down in their backyard. Now I need to continue. And that continuation comes on our home," he said.
So, has anything changed in his life after all the upheaval in the recent weeks? "No way. I'm still the same JP and I still visit the same nightclubs in Cape Town as before," he said.
"However, it's a little different as people come rushing to meet you and at times it's overwhelming.
"I've got to adjust to the new star status but I'll never change as I have the same friends, who have been hanging out with me for years."
Iqbal Khan is a Durban-based sports journalist
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