Who is Kiran Chormale?
Kiran Chormale bats in the middle order for the Ratnagiri Jets in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL). At just 18 years of age, playing for the defending champions of the MPL is truly commendable. He can bowl a bit of off-spin but is primarily renowned for his skill with the bat in hand.
The talented right-handed batter captained the India B Under-19s last year. Leading the India B Under-19s in the Quadrangular Under-19 Series last November, he scored a quick 30 off 14 balls, helping his team put up a tough fight against the India A Under-19s. A few days later, he remained unbeaten on 27 off 15 balls against the England Under-19s.
They also defeated the India A Under-19s by 70 runs, with Kiran contributing 35 runs and taking the crucial wicket of Musheer Khan. However, the Chormale-led side eventually lost the final of the Quadrangular Under-19 Series to the India A Under-19s.
Although he didn’t have the best tournament individually, he still managed to lead his team effectively, as evidenced by their finish above the England Under-19s and the Bangladesh Under-19s.
Kiran Chormale was impressive in Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2023
Kiran Chormale starred with the bat against Mumbai in the final of the U-19 domestic tournament last year. He smashed a 47-ball 74, an innings that included 4 fours and 5 sixes. Additionally, he took a wicket, contributing to Maharashtra’s 115-run victory.
Overall, he scored 428 runs in nine innings in Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2023. His average of 61.14 and strike rate of 127.76 are what made him stand out among his peers. Chormale also scored two centuries, despite batting in the middle order.
Before this individual and collective success with Maharashtra, the Ratnagiri Jets shelled out INR 1.1 lakh in the MPL 2023 auction for his services. The then-17-year-old played each match in the Jets’ MPL 2023-winning campaign. His highlights included 27 off 17 balls against the PBG Kolhapur Tuskers, 17* off 9 balls against the Eagle Nashik Titans, and 34 off 22 balls against the PBG Kolhapur Tuskers in Qualifier 1.
So far this season, the 2005-born has 76 runs under his belt, having played just four innings. His strike rate of 146.15 is handy in the middle order, and it will only go up as he grows more muscular with age.
His finest knock this campaign came against the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings, where he top-scored for his side with an unbeaten 41. While the Ratnagiri-based unit may have succumbed to defeat that night, his fluent shots gave them a ray of hope.
The finisher’s role is arguably the toughest in the T20 format. Already one of the most exciting prospects in Maharashtra cricket, Chormale is a player to watch in the coming years, especially given the high demand for explosive middle-order batters.
