The 24-year-old T20 specialist Tymal Mills was the talk of the town after he attracted the second-highest bid at the recently concluded 2017 IPL auction. Following an INR 12 crore deal with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mills is now dealing with overnight stardom but stresses on the need of staying focussed on his game. The left-arm speedster has previously been a part of the Chittagong Vikings in the Bangladesh Premier League, Brisbane Heat at the Big Bash, Auckland Aces in Super Smash and the Quetta Gladiators at the Pakistan Super League.
Playing down all the hoopla around the big bucks, Mills, however, acknowledged the securities that the amount will bring him. "I need to buy a house and that will be the first thing," he said. Mills, who stays in a shared flat in Brighton, said: "Buy a house outright, so I don't have to worry about a mortgage, just have to pay my bills, so if all else fails, that sets you up for the rest of your life."
Mills mentioned that he would wait for the sum to be credited to his bank account, before going overboard with plans and celebrations. "It's not real yet, not until it goes into my account and I get paid. I've had to make arrangements to receive that money, I've never come into that type of money before so I've got a financial advisor sorted and spoke to my accountant, and set up my bank account accordingly.
"It is a massive amount of money but I've not actually thought about it as it's not real until it's real, as such," he added.
Mills, who debuted with Essex and later joined Sussex, remained fully committed to his county side and hopes to make a strong impact at England's domestic T20 tournament. "I've mentioned a few times I don't have any money yet, but there are a few standard jokes - 'T will get it'- but everyone's been brilliant and really happy for me. They know the journey I have been on and, when the T20 Blast starts again in July, I'll be fully committed to play for Sussex," he added.
He also realises that the price tag comes with immense accountability, and that his performance would be severely scrutinised. He is, however, quick to point that it is a batsman's game, and there may be a few off days on the field, especially while playing on a traditionally good batting wicket in Bengaluru..
"With the price tag I've been bought for, there will be a level of expectation and I'm aware of that, but I'm just going to go out there and do what I've done and do what has got me this far.
"It is going to be tough, playing half my games at Bangalore, you've got to temper your expectations and what is going to be a good day there isn't always going to be a good day somewhere else."
The England seamer hails from a very humble background, and used to help his mother, Louise, by working at a fruit stall before heading to his school. All the fame hasn't come without his own share of struggle. In 2015, he was diagnosed with a congenital back condition, forcing him to slow down and modulate his training regime accordingly. While his career was on the line, the youngster did well to pull himself through.
"Being a 22-year-old, to hear those words and to have that option was hard to hear," Mills said. "It hit me hard. Some of the tests I had to rule out, other things weren't nice to have.
"But I'm glad I took the option to continue playing, to give T20 a crack. It's been an up and down couple of years, a journey that has culminated with getting this recognition in the IPL. It's a really exciting time and I'm looking forward to getting out there."
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