KL Rahul has auctioned the bat he used in the 2019 World Cup for Rs 2,64,228. He also auctioned a slew of other equipment with his brand Gully with the proceeds going to the “Aware Foundation” to help vulnerable children during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Among other memorabilia that were auctioned were his helmet, which he sold for Rs 1,22,677, his pads for Rs 33,028, his ODI jersey for Rs 1,13,240, his T20 jersey for Rs 1,04,824, his Test jersey for Rs 1,32,774 and his gloves for Rs 28,782.

The auction was done in collaboration with Bharat Army, the fan club of the Indian team.

“I have decided to donate my cricket pads, my gloves, helmets and some of my jerseys to our collaboration partner Bharat Army. They are going to auction these things out and the funds will go towards the Aware Foundation. It’s a foundation that look towards helping children. It is very special and I couldn’t pick a better day to do this,” said Rahul according to Times of India.

Rahul, like other cricketers and sportspersons, has been at home as the coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to most major sports around the world. He was to captain Kings XI Punjab in the 2020 season of the Indian Premier League which has been postponed. Talking about how he is spending his time amidst lockdown, Rahul said: “Me and my family are in Bangalore. We’re all safe. I’m just trying to do whatever I can, in terms of training and keeping busy. I haven’t been or haven’t really got to a place where it’s annoying, I’m hanging in there! But yeah, it is it is quite nice to spend time at home and I remember when we kept playing (the team) for so long, all of us kept wanting a break, and now that we’ve got such a big break, we are like we don’t want such a big break.

“I guess that’s what this time is teaching all of us; the important things in life, the importance of being healthy and spending time with family. I got to spend my birthday with my family after a long, long time, so that felt very special.”

Meanwhile, English pacer James Anderson is now set to auction his shirt, bat and a wicket from the last Test that he played in Cape Town to help raise fund to fight the pandemic. The items will be autographed by the fast bowler.

Taking to Twitter, Anderson wrote: “We’re auctioning this lot off on eBay for @gowellfund. My shirt and stump from the last Test I played in Cape Town and my Tailender bat.”

Earlier, India skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers on Friday decided to auction their 2016 IPL knock bats, shirts and gloves online with the proceeds from that going for the coronavirus cause and for an organisation that supports getting meals on peoples’ tables. The online platform is part of de Villiers’ social activities in helping those in need and Kohli also promised to bring his foundation on board so that the cause is mutually beneficial to both India and South Africa.

On May 14 in 2016, de Villiers smashed an unbeaten 52-ball 129 while Kohli slammed 109 off just 55 deliveries to guide RCB to a 144-run win over now Gujarat Lions. RCB had posted 248/4, the second-highest score in IPL history.

“The hunger around the world hurts me, they can’t get food on the table and I have been supporting that cause. Nothing can be worse. That has been my focus and will be for the rest of life,” South African batting ace de Villiers told Indian captain Kohli during an Instagram live chat.

“The 2016 knock against Gujarat Lions was enjoyable. That partnership. We both got hundreds. So I asked you (Virat) to get hold of that bat and I have also got mine. Now we sign our shirts from that match and ours bats. The plan is to get it on an online auction platform,” said de Villiers, spilling the beans.

“It will be a nice collectors item. All proceeds will go for COVID-19 issue and a cause that supports getting meals on peoples’ tables,” added the 36-year old, regarded as one of the most destructive cricketers of all time.

Indo-Asian News Service