Prashant Veer: Saharanpur's Miller and the 'next Jadeja'

Prashant Veer, Uttar Pradesh's left-arm spinning all-rounder, became the joint-highest paid uncapped player in IPL history when Chennai Super Kings secured his services for INR 14.20 crore. The landmark deal arrived three weeks after his 20th birthday, a far cry from the life he led just five years ago, when financial constraints nearly ended his cricketing ambitions.

"In 2020, Prashant wanted to quit cricket," reveals Rajiv Goel, his childhood coach.

The passing of his grandfather that year stripped the family of its primary income—his grandfather's pension. His father, a Shiksha Mitra (para-teacher) in Uttar Pradesh, earned barely enough to support a family of five in Amethi. Goel covered local expenses, while generous donors provided cricket kits, bats, and shoes, allowing Prashant to chase his professional dreams.

This wasn't his first brush with a hasty decision. For Prashant, cricket couldn't be just a pastime; it had to become a profession. This pressure often pushed him to seek faster routes to higher levels.

One such move in 2019 brought him to Goel. On the insistence of his roommate Rakshit Garg, frustrated with the facilities at the Mainpuri Sports Hostel, Prashant left for Saharanpur.

Admission to Uttar Pradesh's state-run sports hostels is highly competitive, with thousands vying for roughly 25 spots. Alumni include cricketers like Suresh Raina and Mohammed Kaif. Annual fees are subsidized to just INR 2500.

Prashant forfeited that opportunity. Garg, whom he had known for only six months, convinced him that his childhood coach 'Tappu Sir' (Rajiv Goel) in Saharanpur offered superior training and better prospects. Aware of Prashant's financial struggles, Garg—son of a paan seller—offered him a place to stay.

The duo cycled to training daily, with Prashant pedaling on the way and riding pillion on the return. "We have grown up like brothers," Garg says.

While Garg earned a spot on Uttar Pradesh's Under-16 team, Prashant was cut in the final round. Devastated, Prashant questioned his talent. In a panic, he secured college admission in Chandigarh, hoping to advance through a less competitive system.

Goel saw Prashant's talent early but notes initial weaknesses. "The cut and sweep were his weaknesses then. But there was no need to tamper with his natural ability. Now, he plays all shots with ease."

Prashant's hardships instilled a relentless work ethic. Success followed swiftly. He didn't need to fight for a place in Chandigarh, having already broken into Uttar Pradesh's Under-19 team after a stellar debut season with bat and ball. He was Uttar Pradesh's highest scorer in the 2022-23 Cooch Behar Trophy and soon earned a spot in the senior team's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad. Consistent performances have since secured his place across all formats for the senior team.

Nicknamed 'Miller' in Saharanpur for his massive sixes, Prashant played for Noida Kings in the UP T20 League, captaining the side by its third season. In the 2025 season, he scored 320 runs at a strike rate of 155.34 and took 8 wickets at an economy of 6.69 in 10 games.

He carried that form into the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring at a strike rate of 169.69 and bowling at an economy of 6.76, becoming indispensable for Uttar Pradesh. He managed this while juggling duties between the senior and Under-23 sides, playing six matches in seven days.

Touted as the next Ravindra Jadeja in Uttar Pradesh cricket circles, his hard work culminated at the Abu Dhabi auction. After CSK's winning bid, one of his first calls was to Garg.

Fortune has been less kind to Garg. After losing both parents in recent years, he stepped away from cricket to shoulder family financial responsibilities, now running a sports goods shop in Saharanpur.

Despite his own unrealized dream, Garg rejoices in his "brother's" success. "Even before he called his parents, he video-called me to share his excitement," Garg says happily. "I may not have my parents today, but he is my family, my brother."