9 Players who rose to international fame after IPL success

The Indian Premiere League (IPL), first of its kind league tournament in cricket got underway in 2008. It was initiated with the objective of promoting young talent and giving them a platform to perform and showcase their skills. The campaign was met with huge success right since its inception and now even in its 9th year (2016) it is going strong and has given not just Indian domestic players but cricketers from all around the world an opportunity to showcase their cricket. Here’s a look at some of them who made it really count bursting on to the thick of things. 1. Shaun Marsh (Australia): Shaun Marsh of Kings XI Punjab. (Photo Source: IANS) In the opening season (IPL 2008) Australian cricketer Shaun Marsh stole the show playing for the franchise Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) finishing the tournament as the highest run-getter which included a century and thereby making his ODI debut for Australia in the same year right after the end of the league. The IPL 1 was a big turning point in Marsh’s career. Thereafter he has played 17 Tests, 50 ODIs and 15 T20Is for Australia. 2. Ravichandran Ashwin (India): Ravichandran Ashwin CSK. (Photo Source: BCCI) Ravichandran Ashwin, the spearhead of India’s spin attack in all three formats made a massive impact in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2010 with his economical bowling announcing his entry into the national side in that very year. His Test debut was in the following year (2011). Ashwin has been truly a revelation and hasn’t looked back since then. He has emerged out and is rated as one of the very best in the business today. Ravi Ashwin has been one of the most consistent performers for India with the ball in the past half a decade especially in the sub-continent. RPS isn’t CSK – 5 Reasons why Rising Pune Supergiants is not Chennai Super Kings 3. Kieron Pollard (West Indies): Kieron Pollard MI. (Photo Source: BCCI) Pollard has made a terrific reputation for himself as a highly explosive middle-order batsman in the limited version of the game through the IPL representing the Mumbai Indians (MI). Pollard is capable of winning games on his own and in explosive style. He got his maiden call for the national side in 2008 in the T20 format, though his international debut was in the previous year (2007). His rose to fame courtesy some thunderous knocks in the IPL and other T20 leagues he has been part of across the world. 4. Ravindra Jadeja (India): Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: BCCI) Ravindra Jadeja played a pivotal role both with the bat and ball helping Rajasthan Royals (RR) win the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. But it was in the next year when he eventually got picked for the Indian side in 2009, the year in which he once again put up some splendid performances with the bat and ball for the Royals amassing 295 runs and ending the tournament with a superb economy rate of under 6.5 runs per over. He is now a regular member of the Indian team in both the limited formats. 5. Ajinkya Rahane (India): Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source: BCCI) Ajinkya Rahane’s phenomenal IPL stint with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2012 earned him a spot in the India team. However, he is still not considered as a frontline T20 product and is more regular in the longest and traditional version of the game (Tests) where he has scored heavily for India both at home and overseas playing some remarkable innings in tough situations and trying conditions. Indeed, Rahane has been a great find for India in Test cricket and the IPL did have a substantial part to play in this regard. 6. Sunil Narine (West Indies): Sunil Narine KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI) Sunil Narine has been instrumental for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) since 2012 when he took the competition by storm with his ‘mystery spin’ which batsmen from all teams had difficulties coping with. His bowling figures were outstanding in the tournament with 24 wickets and an economy rate of less than 6 runs per over made him his skipper’s go-to bowler. Narine was rewarded with his maiden Test call-up immediately after the end of the IPL. In 2014 too he played a big part for the KKR once again assisting them on their way to the title with 21 wickets and an economy rate of just a shade over 6 and a half. Narine has certainly evolved as one of the best spinners in the shortest format. Who are the leading wicket-takers in IPL? – Top 10 leading wicket takers in IPL history 7. Jasprit Bumrah (India): Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo Source: BCCI) Jasprit Bumrah is one player who came to the limelight solely through his performance in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians (MI) where he impressed one and all with his ability to consistently bowl yorkers and make life increasingly difficult for the batsmen in slog overs. But, it was probably his unique slingy action that most batsmen had trouble dealing with. In fact, in 2013 when he was given an IPL contract by the Mumbai Indians (MI) he had not even made his first-class debut and was a raw talent. Finally, he got selected for India as well in the series against Australia (2015-16) and also in the Asia Cup and World T20 2016 held in India. At 22, with age on his side, Bumrah is considered by many as someone who is here to stay and lead the Indian pace attack in the time to come. 8. Hardik Pandya (India): Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: BCCI) Hardik Pandya straightaway made a mark in his first IPL season for the Mumbai Indians (IPL 2015) as a young all-rounder where his ability to soak pressure and deliver when it required the most grabbed many eyeballs. Pandya made his international debut against the Aussies in January 2016 and later got selected for the Asia Cup in March 2016 where he played some flamboyant and fearless cricket showing signs of his aggressive mindset and positive attitude. As a result of which he also got selected for the World T20 2016. Thus, the IPL (2015) was without a question a landmark event in Hardik Pandya’s cricketing career. 9. Shane Watson (Australia): Shane Watson RR. (Photo Source: BCCI) Shane Watson made his debut for Australia in the year 2002 in ODI’s but a lot of things changed for him after his prolific performance in the IPL. It was in IPL 2008, the inaugural season he represented the Rajasthan Royals (RR) contributing majorly to the franchise’s title win performing stupendously both with the bat and ball. The only cricketer to have won the Man of the Tournament award twice in the IPL (2008 & 2013), Watson established himself in the opening slot for Australia after the end of the league (IPL 2008) with Mathew Hayden missing out in the series against West Indies owing to an injury. The IPL not only made him a better player but gave him enormous confidence as well to perform more consistently in the sub-continent while playing for his national side. After the end of the recently concluded World T20, Watson decided to hang his boots up from all forms of international cricket but he would continue to play in the IPL, this time for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). 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