Former Australian captain and Delhi Daredevils coach Ricky Ponting on Thursday said Sandeep Lamichhane has made a marked improvement since joining the Indian Premier League (IPL) side for this season.

The Nepali leg-spinner Lamichhane is the first cricketer from Nepal to feature in an IPL when in January Daredevils bought the 17-year-old for Rs 3.2 million. Even since joining the Daredevils last Tuesday, the Nepali star has been undergoing rigorous training with the who’s who of the game at the Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium under the watchful eyes of the former World Cup-winning Australian skipper.

Speaking at the unveiling of the team’s Theme Song Ponting said: “Lamichhane is good player and works so hard in training that we have to stop him sometimes. He is improving his game gradually.” Asked on Lamichhane’s playing chances Ponting indicated towards the fact that the Nepali player will be fighting for a place with the likes of experienced Indian international Amit Mishra, who have represented India in 22 Tests, 36 One-Day Internationals and eight T20 internationals. 

“He (Lamichhane) is aware of the face but having said that noone is ruling him completely out. He will definitely feature for the team during the course of the tournament,” added Ponting.

Irrespective of his playing chances, Lamichhane is preparing with the rest of the squad for the team’s first game against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on April 8. Daredevils leave for Mohali on April 6. The IPL kicks off at the Wankhede Stadium 

in Mumbai on April 7 with a match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

Lamichanne faces challenges not just to prepare himself for the tournament of this magnitude but also adjust himself in the dressing room filled by world renowned Indian stars like his skipper Gautam Gambhir, Mohammed Shami, Jayant Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, as well as South African Albie Morkel, English Jason Roy, Australian Glen Maxwell and New Zealanders Colin Munro and Trent Boul among others.

Asked about his experience so far with the Daredevils, Lamichhane said: “Its a huge learning curve for me and I take it as an opportunity to be a much better player.” The leg-spinner said he may be the first Nepali cricketer to make it to the IPL but it has also opened doors for others to follow in his footsteps. “If more players get such platforms it will definitely help elevate the standard of Nepali cricket in future,” added Lamichhane.

“I may or may not feature in the IPL as it all depends on game situations. If I ever get the opportunity to play I hope to make it count,” said the cricketer. “But I look forward to my team’s success in the event,” he said.

Asked about his experience on sharing the dressing room with the likes of Ponting and Gambhir,  the Nepali spinning wizard said: “Its really flattering to have be in such envioronment as both encourage the youngsters to raise their game. Personally as well, I see both of them motivating me to raise my level.”