Franchise cricket’s most recognisable element has been the Indian Premier League. There is a lot riding on this event financially, fame-wise, and media-wise. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, things have shifted a bit.
The IPL was previously slated for September of the previous year. There were a lot of unanswered questions about the tournament, and IPL did not let anyone down. It was a huge hit with the audience last year.
The BCCI has decided to hold the tournament in accordance with the customary scheduling this year. The event was, however, put on hold indefinitely due to an increase of COVID instances around the country, as well as a few cases across various camps. The event will, however, resume in a month. In honour of the die-hards, here are some highlights:
5 underrated players to watch out in the UAE leg of IPL
Shahbaz Ahmed
Three teams have never won the IPL Trophy, including the Royal Challengers Bangalore. They’ve finished second three times, but couldn’t cross the finish line in the championship game. But this time, they have a respectable team at their disposal, and they can turn this season into a memorable one for the supporters.
Any strong IPL side will have a large contingent of Indian players, especially uncapped ones. Big-name players will be compensated for by players of this calibre. Every time a team has won a championship, there has been one player who is largely unknown to the rest of the world yet has made a substantial contribution.
Shahbaz Ahmed fills this function for RCB. The bowling all-rounder has shown some promise both with the bat and the ball. He has six wickets in seven games. On slower wickets, his best bowling figure of 3/7 demonstrates his abilities. Another plus is his ability to hold on to the shortstop even with his 100 percent strike rate.
Rajat Patidar
The RCB management has done a fantastic job in selecting excellent players from the grassroots level. Rajat Patidar is a household name in Indian cricket, although he is largely unknown to fans. When people think of him, the first thing they think of is his 51-ball 96.
Only INR 20 lakh was bid on him, and he was the highest bidder. For the time being, his performance for RCB appears to have been lacking. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he struck an undefeated 68 from 29 balls, made him a star player.
Any bowling attack can be shredded by a player like Rajat Sharma from the get-go. He can open innings for his squad even if players like Devdutt aren’t present. It’s safe to say that the RCB management has been keeping tabs on him for the past two years, and they see him as one of their players in the future.
Abdul Samad
Since his debut against the Delhi Capitals a year ago, Abdul Samad has been generating headlines in the sports pages. SRH discovered a gem in the form of this fearless child from Jammu. Even though he hasn’t been put to good use, he has demonstrated his abilities when given the chance.
As of right now, Samad has pitched in all 12 innings he’s seen with the Sunrisers. He’s been a fantastic striker in the lower level, scoring at a rate of 161.54 percent with a huge strike rate. In addition, if one of the bowlers is having a bad day, he can step in and bowl a couple of overs.
Management must look to offer Samad as many chances as possible with the second leg taking place in the United Arab Emirates. The Sunrisers are now in the hunt for a playoff spot, so it’s critical that they make the most of its star players. Samad, on the other hand, is a decent hitter who fills a void in a lineup devoid of power.
Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh was a member of the U-19 team that won the World Cup in 2018. Even though he only played in two games during the World Cup, his bowling prowess still left everyone in awe. In the end, he was signed by the Punjab team.
Last year, he established himself as a key player of the Punjab team. And he’s bowled well in 17 games. The economy rate of 8.97, on the other hand, does not reflect his efforts. While other bowlers were allowing over 12 runs each over, he was able to keep his average down.
Singh has taken 19 wickets in ODI cricket. And at the moment, if there is one bowler in Punjab’s squad who has been able to hold things together, it is Singh. He’s been more remarkable than Shami at times. Punjab Kings should keep Singh around for future auctions if they want to stop the flow of runs.
Amit Mishra
Amit Mishra continues to be underappreciated despite appearing in 154 IPL games. His professional life has followed this pattern. Even at the highest level of international cricket, he has gone unnoticed time and time again. When he established his groove, another bowler was at the top of his game.
Mishra has taken 166 wickets in the IPL thus far. And he’s a tournament legend, as seen by his 7.35 economy rate. Even yet, many of his followers have no idea what he’s been up to lately. Injuries, in addition to bad luck, have impeded his career.
In T20Is, his economy rate is 6.32. Adding to that, the economy rate of 4.73 in one-day internationals is also a great record. Mishra may also play in the field and at the plate, depending on the situation. Consequently, he’s a valuable member of the Delhi Capitals’ roster.
