IPL 2017: 5 Emerging players of the league stage

Extravagance might be the prevalent feature in the cash-rich tournament that is the IPL. Nevertheless, the annual Indian T20 league is the perfect platform which allows fresh talents unheard of to rub shoulders with some of the greatest names in international cricket. Youngsters have blossomed in ripe conditions for development that the IPL offers, and in turn have delivered scintillating performances. The tenth edition of the IPL has been no different, as youthful figures have made a name for themselves through the course of the tournament. The IPL has been kind to reward ‘emerging players’ who have impressed one and all with their verve and consistency. Selection Criteria: A player must be born after April 1, 1991, and should have played 5 or fewer Tests for India. The player should play less than 25 IPL matches and should not have won the award before CricTracker takes a look at 5 emerging players as the league phase of this season of the IPL comes to a close. Mohammad Siraj Mohammed Siraj. (Photo: IANS) Hyderabad-born Mohammad Siraj was fittingly drafted by defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad. The youngster burst onto the scene during SRH’s encounter with the Delhi Daredevils, removing the dangerous opening pair of Sanju Samson and Sam Billings. Under the tutelage of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and bowling alongside Siddarth Kaul, Mohammad Siraj has complemented the SRH bowling line-up perfectly. While Bhuvi resorts to swing, Siraj can rattle batsmen with his pace. He has bowled with a sense of hostility that all fast bowlers thrive on. Siraj’s stats will indeed have an economy of 9.21 sticking out like a pricking thorn. Nevertheless, having played just 6 games, he has bagged 10 wickets so far. Most recently, he sunk a Gujarat Lions batting line-up with figures of 4-32. Basil Thampi Basil Thampi of Gujarat Lions. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) The auction table was quite surprised when the Gujarat Lions snapped Basil Thampi for INR 85 lakh. When the Lions unleashed him after a couple of matches, many understood why he was such an asset. In a country that dominantly produces prolific batsmen and brilliant spinners, Basil Thampi is a rare talent who clicks over 140kmph on a regular basis. Apart from express pace, Thampi’s forte is to fire in the yorkers at will. Basil Thampi was able to trouble the likes of Virat Kohli, Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle, all fierce hitters of the ball. The speedster has gone for runs, but his major contribution has been 11 wickets to a predominantly batting-oriented Gujarat Lions. His side lacked experience in the bowling department, despite the presence of veteran Praveen Kumar. Thampi thus took it upon himself to support Andrew Tye. The cricketing fraternity could soon witness Basil Thampi opening the bowling for Team India. As far as sheer pace is concerned, India currently has Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav at their disposal. With the way he’s faired in the IPL, Thampi could well go on to be a regular figure in India’s pace attack. Ishan Kishan Mohali: Ishan Kishan of Gujarat Lions in action. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) Quite like Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan also marshalled his troops towards an under-19 world cup final. The youngster had already shown great promise at the domestic level, on one occasion striking a 69-ball 87 in a Ranji Trophy game. Despite being a small man, Kishan showed that he could pack a punch, and had no difficulties clearing the boundary ropes. Promoted to open the batting for the Gujarat Lions, Ishan Kishan unleashed his big hitting skills. While the bigger names in the Gujarat Lions departed without making useful contributions, Kishan held onto his wicket to top-score for his team. The match eventually ended in a tie, and in retrospect, it was Kishan’s 48 that helped Gujarat post 153. Kishan then got to his highest score in this edition of the IPL, with a valiant 61 against the Sunrisers. The young man from Jharkhand finished the season with 277 runs, at an impressive strike rate of 134.46. However, what would have caught the selectors’ eyes is his fearless approach to batting, no matter at what stage of the game he plays. Kuldeep Yadav Kuldeep Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter) Following a dream debut Test against the mighty Australians in which he picked up 4 crucial wickets in the first innings at Dharamshala, Kuldeep Yadav has featured more often than not in the KKR XI. The left-arm chinaman bowler was most impressive against the Rising Pune Supergiant, having foxed MS Dhoni and Manoj Tiwary in the hosts’ first innings. In terms of flight, line, length and pace, Kuldeep made the perfect adjustments to batsmen dancing down the track. In some ways, Kuldeep Yadav has been KKR’s mystery bowler along with Sunil Narine. Kuldeep has had a hand in the Knight Riders’ success this season, with a total of 12 wickets at a decent strike rate of 20.50. A rare ilk in Indian cricket, Kuldeep Yadav’s performance will surely attract contracts to play for the national team on a regular basis. Rishabh Pant Rishabh Pant of Delhi Daredevils. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) Rishabh Pant has proved this season that he is without a doubt a force to reckon with. His blistering knocks moved from appearing solely in the domestic circuit to lighting up the IPL as well. When the chips were down, Rishabh Pant stepped up to play some courageous cricket in an effort to bail his team out of trouble. Despite a disappointing season, Delhi Daredevils would have been particularly pleased with Pant’s contributions. Striking at a rate in excess of 165, Rishabh Pant has made his way towards 366 valuable runs this season. His 43-ball 97 against the Gujarat Lions helped the Delhi Daredevils gun down a steep target of 209. Pant smashed 9 humongous sixes en route to his highest score in T20 cricket. In the absence of Quinton de Kock, he’s also done a neat job behind the stumps. Having already earned a call-up to the Indian team for the shortest format of the game, Rishabh Pant’s recent performances will only bolster his chances of donning national colours for the one-dayers as well.

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IPL 2017: 5 Emerging players of the league stage

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