IPL 2018: Uncapped bowlers who've stolen the show this year

Ever since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) back in 2008, the tournament has provided Cricket lovers with exciting cricketing action year after year. However, the glitz and glamour is only one facet of the cricketing gala lasting for almost two months each year. What the IPL has successfully done is to have brought raw talent to the forefront and given them an opportunity to learn the game in the vicinity of the best in the world.

Every year, the IPL throws some surprise packages at us that leave us dumbfounded. Most of these surprise elements, be it, batsmen or bowlers, come to us in the form of uncapped players. Not only do they dazzle us for the time period of the IPL, but also provide their respective nations with a treasure trove of cricketing talent to be utilised in future. Talented Indian cricketers like Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal gained attention from their stints in the tournament and were subsequently able to make a place for themselves in the national side.

Essentially, an uncapped player in the IPL is one who has not represented his nation in any format of the game at an international level. In 2018, we’ve seen several uncapped cricketers in the league make a long-lasting impression on our minds and win matches for their respective teams with their effort and passion. Let’s take a look at some of the uncapped bowlers who’ve stolen the show this year.

1. Siddharth Kaul

From being a part of the World Cup winning U-19 team back in 2008 under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, to turning out to be one of the top-rated bowlers in the 2018 season of the IPL, Siddharth Kaul has had an eventful cricketing career. Owing to a string of injuries in the early years of his career, Kaul has been unable to make his India debut till date. But that has not stopped the feisty Punjab bowler from putting his heart and soul into his game and IPL 2018 bears witness to his efforts.

Kaul is currently the leading wicket-taker for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with 9 wickets to his name in 7 matches. Although spinner Rashid Khan has been getting most of the limelight for his bowling heroics for the SRH, Kaul has been an instrumental cog in holding the pace department together for the Kane Williamson-led team. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar suffering from a minor back injury, the onus has been on 27-year-old Kaul to spearhead the fast bowling of the team and he’s done his team proud. His best figures, as of yet, have come against Mumbai Indians (MI) while defending a paltry total of 119 runs, where Kaul ended the match with splendid bowling figures of 4-0-23-3.

2. Deepak Chahar

Young Deepak Chahar was responsible for a mini bidding war during the IPL 2018 auctions when Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Daredevils (DD) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) all sprang to their feet to acquire the pacer in their side. CSK emerged victorious as Chahar was bought for four times his base price of INR 20 Lacs. As it turns out, the 25-year-old has not disappointed the CSK for having put their faith in him and has been bowling exceptionally well.

Chahar has already bagged 6 wickets in the 6 matches that he’s played. His bowling heroics have helped CSK defend seemingly low totals, unnerve the opposition batsmen and everything in between. The match against the SRH at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad saw the youngster put up a dream spell as he ripped through the top and middle order of the opposition, to claim 3 wickets. What was more impressive is the fact that Chahar gave away just 15 runs in his quota of 4 overs, which he exhausted even before the ninth over the SRH innings was played.

3. Mayank Markande

Although Mumbai Indians (MI) have been having a dismal season so far, with just one win to show for their efforts, young Mayank Markande has been a gem of a find for the team. The 20-year-old was undisputedly bought by MI for INR 20 Lacs. As an uncapped young leg-break bowler, many would’ve thought his purchase to be a gamble. But Markande has proved all sceptics wrong with his excellent spells. His ability to dismiss crucial batsmen while hovering around a decent T20 economy rate of 7.15 has turned him into a real asset for the Mumbai team.

Currently, Markande is the second highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 10 wickets in his quiver off just 6 encounters. The young spinner possesses a good back of the hand slower ball, that he’s been able to turn into his strength. His best figures of 4/23 against the SRH, though insufficient to win MI the match, was proof enough of the abundant talent that Markande possesses, making him an ideal find for the future national side.

4. Ankit Rajpoot

When Ankit Rajpoot’s solo heroics were able to restrict SRH to a below-par total of just 132 runs, onlookers were found mesmerised by the fast-medium bowler’s dexterity in understanding and bowling to the psyche of the batsmen at the crease. His IPL auction bidding is a story in itself with his previous franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the KXIP embroiled in a tedious bidding tussle, at the end of which Rajpoot fetched a whopping sum of INR 3 crores from the latter team in contrast to his base price of INR 30 Lacs.

The 24-year-old has emerged as one of the strengths of the KXIP side and has already claimed 7 wickets in just 3 matches at an average of 9.85. His most noticeable spell came against SRH a couple of days ago at Hyderabad. Rajpoot was hailed by one and all for his exquisite bowling, in the course of which he dismissed heavy-weight batsmen like Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson. Rajpoot picked up 5 wickets in the encounter while conceding just 14 runs in his quota of 4 overs, making him one of the best-uncapped bowlers of the ongoing season thus far.