NEW DELHI: Delhi batter Sarthak Ranjan, son of Bihar strongman and Congress leader Rajesh Ranjan ‘Pappu Yadav’, has earned his maiden IPL contract after being picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 30 lakh at the IPL 2026 mini auction in Abu Dhabi, marking a major breakthrough in a career long overshadowed by his parents’ political stature.
Despite playing only a handful of senior matches for Delhi, Ranjan built a reputation as a prolific run-scorer in age-group cricket and recently revived his prospects through strong performances for North Delhi Strikers in the Delhi Premier League (DPL), where he piled up 449 runs in the second season, including a century and four fifties, catching the eye of KKR scouts. His father celebrated the auction moment with an emotional post on X, saying, “Ab Sarthak ke naam se banegi humari pehchaan (Now people will know us by Sarthak’s name),” underlining the family’s desire for him to be recognised beyond their political identity.
Sarthak, 29, admitted that being the son of influential politicians often felt like a burden, with many doubting his merit and attributing his opportunities to his surname, something he said took a toll on his mental health and once pushed him close to quitting the game. He revealed that he sought help during a dark phase but used cricket and a burning desire to step out of his parents’ shadow as motivation to fight back, describing his journey as a “love-hate relationship” with the sport.
The right-hander credited the DPL for giving him a “second wind” and said he consciously worked on upgrading his batting and fitness after the first season, consulting players like Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya to understand the standards required at IPL level. Drawing inspiration from Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya, he said he has tried to learn how to rotate strike, hit big, and “unsettle bowlers” through smarter planning at the crease.
Thanking God and his family for the opportunity, Ranjan said he is “more than happy and grateful” to finally have a platform like the IPL to define his own identity through cricket rather than politics. Looking ahead to joining KKR, he expressed excitement about working with Abhishek Nayar, whose coaching approach he “always admired”, and stressed that mental toughness will be key as he seeks to turn this long-awaited break into a lasting career at the highest level.
