IPL: How Hardik Pandya's struggle story inspired young SRH sensation Aniket Verma

The 23-year-old sensation made a free-flowing fifty to take his side to a respectable 163, after the star-studded batting line-up collapsed against Delhi Capitals in the IPL match on Sunday.

Aniket (74, 41b) showed how to capitalise a smooth pitch with a wisely accelerated innings but there were not many takers for that route in the Sunrisers camp after Pat Cummins decided to bat first.

"Reading from the newspapers, I told him the story of how Hardik and Krunal survived on maggie for three years, when they toured around Baroda to play various cricketing leagues and achieve what they achieved today, he was 14-years then," said his uncle Amit Verma to a popular media house.

"I saw motivation and hunger in his eyes that day," he added. "He touched my feet, that day, and said I complained about trivial things," Amit pointed out a change of mindset in him.

Moreover, Tanay Tiwari, a commentator with Starsports, said in a video that is now viral, "He forced SRH to make him part of the playing XI, when he was given a simulation situation to score 85 plus in 8 overs, Aniket Verma made it in under four overs. And when asked he said, 'I aim to be the highest six hitter in this IPL.'"

"He lost his mother at a very young age and he used to stay with his uncle, eversince, who did everything to take care of him. He used to take Aniket for training from 13 kilometre distance everyday," he added.

"SRH scouted Aniket from MP's T20 cricket league, without any first-class experience and you will see more such innings from him," Tanay exuberated confidence.

Meanwhile, SRH will take on KKR at Eden Gardens to take revenge for last season's final. Match starts at 7.30 pm.