IPL 2019: 8 second best players from each team and their significance

Like Orion, IPL is one of the most prominent constellations on the cricketing equator whose beauty reflects as a visual feast for the cricket world. This constellation consists of various super giants, teams from different parts of the country. Here, the brightest stars are in the form of players whose light glimmers in all directions. Since more than a decade the fans have been gazing at this star cluster. This league has been a star attraction since the inception as players from across the play here.

The 12th season of the IPL has been showing its glimpses of glory. And now as the tourney is in the final league stage fans are eagerly waiting for more spectacles. Most of the teams have struggled to maintain their consistency which has made this season even more unpredictable. Some superstars have already stamped their authority in this IPL. Along with them, there are players who have helped their respective franchises immensely, but their performances have gone under the radar.

1. Imran Tahir – CSK

The Chennai based franchise has again shown their ability to play smart cricket, and pull off close games. Their batting line-up has been chipping with useful runs, and Dhoni has been the mainstay for most ties. The bowlers have been able to keep the run flow in check on slow tracks, but have looked vulnerable on true surfaces. CSK are at the top of the table, and will continue their march if other teams don’t pick up themselves.

As CSK have played a number of games at Chepauk, their spin department has done the bulk of the work which includes Imran Tahir. The South African leggie has ruled the roost, as he has picked up 15 wickets in 9 matches. He has bowled tight spells under pressure and has provided crucial breakthroughs. Tahir’s best performance came against KKR, where he scalped 4 wickets including Lynn and Russell by giving away just 27 runs.

2. Hardik Pandya – MI

Unlike other seasons, the Rohit led side have hit their straps early in the tournament. The team’s batting has been shaky, but the keeper-batsman De Kock has been a stand out performer with his contributions. Bumrah has again proved his worth in the bowling department, as he has always responded to his captain’s call every time. MI are fighting with their arch-rivals CSK in order to finish at the top of the table, and are surely looking to have a two time crack in the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians have a lot of match winners in their side, and Hardik Pandya is definitely one of them. The Indian all-rounder has already weaved his magic with his finishing skills. He has scored 241 runs down the order with a stunning strike rate of 189, and picked up 8 wickets in 10 matches. Pandya’s game-changing cameos include 25 off 8 balls against CSK, and 37 off 16 balls against RCB which gave his team two crucial wins.

3. Nitish Rana – KKR

The Karthik led team started their campaign with a dash, but they have failed to keep up with the pace. Andre Russell has been their star, but their other batsmen have shown audacity and recklessness in equal measures. The bowling line-up which consists of match winners have struggled in the entire season, as they have failed to stand up for the team. From the last couple of games, they have been losing momentum which is not a good sign.

Knight Riders have some exuberant talents, who can punch above their weights, and Nitish Rana is one such candidate of the team. The southpaw has amassed nearly 311 runs in 10 matches which includes a couple of sparkling half-centuries. He has been the linchpin of the Kolkata’s middle-order, as he has provided good support to Russell. Rana showed his class when he scored 63 off 34 balls against KXIP which included 7 towering sixes.

4. Johnny Bairstow – SRH

The Hyderabad franchise has shown their potential in IPL 2019, but have lost some steam from the last couple of games. The team is heavily dependent on their top-order where David Warner has played match-winning knocks often. As usual, their bowlers have put on decent performances in most of the matches. As some of their stars are going to leave for International duties, the team may face some hiccups in the upcoming games.

SRH have some explosive commodities in their kitty, and the most destructive one has to be Johnny Bairstow. The England keeper-batsman have provided belligerent starts to the team, and he has already piled up 445 runs in 9 matches with a strike rate of 153. The new entrant has formed a deadly combo at the top with the pocket dynamite Warner. Bairstow has played some blistering innings and one of them was his maiden IPL century against RCB which consisted of some glorious shots.

5. Ravi Ashwin – KXIP

The team from North India is a perfect example of inconsistency, as they have not won games in a streak. The top order has played some decisive cricket with Rahul as their knight in shining armour, but the teams’ middle order has looked vulnerable so far. The bowling department has stepped up in some games, but has also let down the franchise at crucial junctures. If the team will continue their tournament in the same pattern, they may not reach their next destination which is playoffs.

The Punjab franchise consists of some outstanding players and excellent thinkers of the game, and their captain Ravi Ashwin is one of them. He has led the team from the front with 11 wickets in 10 matches with an economy of 7.5. The Indian off-spinner has been an active skipper as some of his on-field decisions have turned out to be masterstrokes. Ashwin bowled a match-winning spell against RR, where he was awarded the MOM for his figures of 2/24.

6. Yuzvendra Chahal – RCB

The Kohli-led side has flattered to deceive again, and right now they are at the bottom of the points table. The batting mantle has been taken up by the skipper, but his captaincy tactics have been bizarre. The bowling line-up have shown signs of inexperience, as they have let down the team at crucial times. The team has looked clueless in pressure situations, and they will only make it to playoffs if a miracle unfolds in the final weeks of IPL 2019.

The Bangalore franchise has some quality International players which include Yuzvendra Chahal. The leg-spinner from Haryana is an attacking bowler, who can deliver the goods for his side on a regular basis. Chahal has been a pillar of RCB team with his wicket-taking skills, and in this season he has scalped 13 wickets in 9 matches. The leggie bowled an inspired spell against MI where his figures read 4/38, but his team ended up on the wrong side.

7. Jofra Archer – RR

The Rajasthan franchise failed to capture decisive moments in each game, and that’s why they are languishing at the bottom half of the table. Apart from a couple of good innings from Buttler and Samson, their batting line-up have not contributed anything substantial. Their bowling department has been served well by the tweakers. As some important players of the franchise are going to take a hike for International duties. they are most likely to end their campaign on a sour note.

RR have some superstars who can win matches for their team on his own, and Jofra Archer is in that category. The tall speedster can generate raw pace, and can trouble batsmen of any order. He can bowl in powerplays and as well as in the death overs, and in IPL 2019 he has taken 11 wickets in 9 matches with an economy of 6.7. Archer bowled a fine spell against MI, where he took 3 wickets including the scalps of Rohit and Pollard, and gave away just 38 runs on a flat pitch of Mumbai.

8. Shikhar Dhawan – DC

After a long time the Delhi team has finally arrived with some purpose in the 12th season of IPL. Their batsmen have put up some good shows, and especially captain Shreyas Iyer has stood up for the team. Rabada has been the wrecker in chief in Delhi’s journey of the league phase, as he has taken their bowling line-up to a new level. The team looks solid, and is expected to seal a playoff spot after 9 long years, which is a positive for the underdogs.

The Delhi franchise has got a perfect mix of youngsters and experienced veterans, and one of them is Shikhar Dhawan. The southpaw has been a star at the top, as he has accumulated 347 runs in 10 matches. The Indian opener has led the new look batting line-up from the front as he has played the role of an aggressive player and an innings builder in most games. Dhawan made a classic 97 off 63 balls against KKR, and guided his team in a chase of 180.

In IPL most teams are dependent on their superstars to churn out victories for them, but these players cannot win the title for the franchise individually. In order to win tournaments with high-octane other players need to stand up in crucial games, but their contribution may go unnoticed.

Get the latest Cricket News and updates from the Indian Premier League, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.