5 Indian cricketers from 90s era who should have played IPL

The craze of IPL 10 has transcended its magic at every nook and corner of the world. Cricket fans don’t mind watching these IPL clashes until midnight to witness those heart-throbbing last over thrill.

But for the youth born in 80s and 90s era, the names of certain gifted cricketers (now, many of them are cricket experts and commentators) are definitely missing the list. Unfortunately, these cricketers took retirement from the game long time back and never played IPL.

This article will surely take you back to memory lanes when 275 happened to be a winning total. These cricketers helped team India win a lot of matches in dire circumstances in those days. These legendary cricketers would have rocked IPL had they got a chance to play the tournament.

5) Ajay Jadeja

Jadeja was a prominent name in the 90s era. He had all the skills and talents that make a modern T20 player. Big shots down the ground, occasional off-spin bowling and exceptional fielding at third man or gully regions, Jadeja was a name to reckon with in the 90s era.

Unfortunately, his cricket legacy got stuck due to match-fixing controversy. However, the honorable Delhi High Court allowed Jadeja to participate at domestic cricket matches in later years. Jadeja made a comeback in Ranji cricket team in 2013. Jadeja got 5359 runs in his 196-ODI career with 30 fifties and 6 tons.

His 25-ball 45 against Pakistan at 1996 Wills World Cup was one of his finest knocks. He smashed boundaries and sixes against the fiery bowling spells of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram at a strike rate of 180!

4) Javagal Srinath

Now, a match referee of international repute, having officiated around 24 Tests, 122 ODIs and 25 T20Is, undoubtedly, Srinath could have been an asset for any IPL team. Javagal Srinath played fantastically well for the Indian cricket team in the 90s era. He also remained one of the leading wicket takers in the ICC 2003 Cricket World Cup alongside Zaheer Khan.

With more than 550 international wickets to his credit and ability to bowl at astute line and length at death overs made Srinath a prominent fast bowler in 90s era. Also, he had good batting abilities too. Srinath won the faith of the then Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar to bat at number three in 50-over games.

With an intrinsic ability to dodge the ball away from the right handers, and swing the ball both ways – Srinath could have been a successful bowler in IPL had he not taken retirement in 2003.

3) Robin Singh

Robin Singh is the batting coach of MI and was the main architect behind the team’s successful performance in 2013 and 2015 winning the IPL titles twice.

Despite being a key strategist for MI at IPL, he had never played an IPL match. Robin Singh was known for his fantastic fielding and hard-hitting batting at limited over formats in late 90s era.

Robin Singh has played 136 ODIs for India, managing 2339 runs and 69 international wickets to his credit. No doubt, Robin Singh could have been a crucial all-rounder for an IPL team – but he already took retirement in 2001.

2) Navjot Singh Sidhu

Currently, the Minister of Punjab state, Sidhu is a person with versatile talents and exceptional public speaking. Be it a cricket ground, television screen or Politics; Sidhu excelled it all like none else.

Sidhu was a flamboyant top-order batsman and spectacular fielder. It was because of his fantastic fielding in late 90s that he got the nickname – Jonty Sidhu after great Protea’s fielder Jonty Rhodes.

Sindhu represented India at 51 tests and 136 ODIs scoring over 7600 runs with 15 centuries in his kitty. No doubt, Sidhu could have been a prolific batsman in an IPL team.

1) Kapil Dev

A legendary all-rounder and India’s 1983 World Cup winning captain, Kapil Dev represented team India for long 16 years (1978-1994). Also, known as Haryana Hurricane, he would have been a natural choice for any IPL team. Kapil Dev scored a memorable 175* against Zimbabwe in 1983 with a strike rate of 127 helping India won the match convincingly in the end.

With more than 9000 runs and 650 plus wickets at 336 international matches, Kapil Dev is a legend in its true sense. A glimpse of T20 cricket skills was always there in Kapil Dev’s style of playing while leading India from the front.

From a perfect Yorker-length delivery at death overs to his exploding batting style down the order, Kapil Dev could have been a wonderful all-rounder at IPL tournaments – unfortunately that didn’t happen.