IPL 2019: Team-wise one uncapped player who should be retained

The mystique of IPL has grown over the years, as a new layer is added after every season. The 12th edition has provided the charm to the audience with its spectacular displays. The players did their best to entertain the jam-packed stadiums, and the crowd support has been enormous. With only 3 games left in the season, the fans are already rooting for the next tourney.

IPL 2019 has been a glorious tournament, as it has surprised everybody with its twists and turns. The franchises have been extremely strategic and the tactics of most of the teams have given them satisfying results. The established players have retained their aura, and some new ones have also arrived for their stake of the limelight. These players should be given more opportunities so, that they can flourish in the next season.

Here are the uncapped players who should be retained by their respective franchises

1) Rahul Chahar – MI

Mumbai Indians have finished at the top the points table in IPL 2019, and one of their stars has been Rahul Chahar. The leggie has been a game changer for the Rohit-led side, as he has picked key wickets. He has scaled up 12 wickets in as many games at a staggering economy rate of 6.83. Chahar is an emerging talent of this edition, and his skills have been a visual treat for cricket lovers.

The cricketer from Rajasthan was a part of the Mumbai squad in the last season but due to the essence of Mayank Markande, he warmed the benches. Chahar waited patiently for his chances and now he looks an integral part of the side for the coming years after a good season. He has an excellent domestic record where he has picked 38 wickets in 22 List-A games at an economy rate of 4.9.

The leg-spinner looks a good bet and he should be retained by the franchise. One cannot forget his spell of 3/19 against Delhi where he outfoxed Indian internationals like Shaw, Dhawan, and Iyer.

2) Sandeep Warrier – KKR

It was disheartening to see Kolkata Knight Riders struggle throughout the season with multiple problems in the side. Their bowling department didn’t have any striking effect but at the end of the season, Sandeep Warrier looked like a knight in the shining armor. The speedster took 2 wickets in 3 games at a rate of 7.08 which is really good. Sandeep has impressed everybody with his pace and bounce.

The pacer from Kerala came as a replacement player for Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Sandeep has picked 43 wickets in 43 T20s with an economy rate of 7 which includes a hat-trick in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy played earlier in the year. His List-A record of 48 scalps in 39 games at a rate of 5.5 is praiseworthy.

In IPL 2019, though he took 2 wickets, they were the prized scalps of Gayle and Rahul. He has the ability to bowl without fearing his opponent and that’s why he seems a future prospect for the team.

3) Manjot Kalra – DC

Finally, the team from Delhi has arrived with their arsenal in the IPL battlefield. The Capitals have reached the playoffs after 7 long years, as their batting department has been served by some exuberant stars. Among them, there is a youngster who has not yet made his IPL debut, and it is none other than Manjot Kalra. The rookie is a batsman with immense potential.

Kalra was snapped in the auction by Delhi franchise, but due to the presence of various Indian stars, he has failed to make the cut to the playing XI. The southpaw recently made his domestic debut when he played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy 2019. The youngster has the pedigree, and it was on show when he accumulated over 250 runs in the U19 World Cup of 2018.

Kalra’s ton in the final of the U19 WC was a magnificent inning where he thrashed the Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground. Delhi may need a couple of batting mainstays in the upcoming seasons, and at that time he can join forces with Shaw.

4) Riyan Parag – RR

Rajasthan Royals had a below-par outing in IPL 2019, and most of their International players failed to deliver. The team consisted of many giant stars, but the most radiating one was Riyan Parag, dwarf star. The 17-year boy wonder has really outshone the other players in the dugout. He has scored 160 runs in 7 innings at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 136.

The Assamese cricketer was fished by the Rajasthan franchise in the IPL 2019 auction but didn’t make it to the final XI till the half-way mark. Parag looks elegant and his record in T20s is good as he has scored 335 runs in 17 ties, and even his List-A average is nearly 43. Along with his batting, his skills with the ball are also satisfactory, and his composure at this young age has surprised even the experts.

He hit a half-century in the last game of the season but his most sound knock has to be the 47 against KKR where he won the tie for his team by batting with lower-order. Parag can turn into a sensation if enough chances are given to him by Rajasthan.

5) Dhruv Shorey – CSK

The Dhoni-led team again showed their class by reaching their 10th playoffs in as many attempts. Many of the quality stars are still waiting in the wings, and Dhruv Shorey is one of them. He played a single tie where his nerves got better of him and only scored 6 runs. Shorey has an admirable T20 record, as he has scored over 500 runs in 28 matches at an average of 29.

Shorey has the ability to play long innings, and he would have been a fresh face in the middle-order of Chennai Super Kings. The youngster from Delhi has been in good nick. He was the highest run-getter in the Duleep trophy 2018-19 with 293 runs in 3 matches. In two seasons he has got only two opportunities and is waiting for more chances to come his way.

The right-hander can perform under pressure, and his ton in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy final is the perfect example to prove it. As CSK has a lot of players who are not gonna stay around for a long time, Shorey can be their star in the next couple of seasons.

6) Navdeep Saini – RCB

The team from Bangalore will always remain the underachievers of the league, and this time they have ended up with a wooden spoon again. The Kohli led side has been inside the tunnel this season but at the end of it, they have found light in the form of Navdeep Saini. He played 13 games in which he snapped 11 wickets at an economy rate of 8.27. The pacer has amazed the yesteryear legends with his raw pace on good tracks.

Navdeep Saini proved to be a good addition to the side, as he has bowled tight spells for the franchise in desperate times. He has even outclassed the International stars with his rhythm and that’s why he has been named in the stand-by list of 2019 World Cup. Saini has generated eye-catching numbers in T20s and List-A games where he has scalped 30 and 57 wickets respectively in a short span of time. In T20s he has conceded runs at a mere rate of 7.

The speedster from Delhi bowled a match-winning spell against Punjab where his figures read 2/33, and he bowled death overs of high quality. RCB need a spearhead in their bowling department, and that’s why he should be retained at all costs.

7) Shahbaz Nadeem – SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad sneaked their way into the playoffs of IPL 2019, but the team has lacked consistency in their sojourn. They have high-class players in their squad and one of them is Shahbaz Nadeem who has not played enough games. He has played 3 games in which he has picked up 2 wickets. Nadeem is an unlucky star who never gets a full season to showcase his skills.

Nadeem was traded by the Delhi franchise in IPL 2019 with the Hyderabad team after serving them for 8 long years. Nadeem has played 64 matches in IPL in which he has bagged 42 scalps at a stunning economy rate of 7.42. He has always provided the captain with tight spells in middle-overs. His List-A record will make most of the bowlers envious, as he has picked 142 wickets in 98 matches.

His spell against KKR in IPL 2019 proved to be a game-changing one where he conceded runs at a rate of 7.50 as the team won the tie by 2 runs. As Rashid Khan has struggled in this edition, Nadeem can be the support required for the Afghan spinner in the upcoming seasons.

8) Sarfaraz Khan – KXIP

The Ashwin-led team again lost their plot at the half-way mark and their season turned into a sour one because of some bad outings. The team had only a handful of batsmen who contributed regularly, and one of them is Sarfaraz Khan. The youngster from Mumbai played 8 games in which he scored 180 runs at an average of 45. Sarfaraz has come a long way and in this season and he has blossomed.

The talented rookie played some efficient knocks in the middle-order but in the second half of the season, he didn’t get enough chances. He can play innovative shots and his List-A record is a decent one with 257 runs in 12 games. In T20s he has a strike rate of 138 and has often played useful cameos down the order. This year he played a couple of games as No.4 of the team and he showed great maturity.

In the first game of the season, he made an attractive 46 off 29 balls and provided the finishing touches. In a season where Punjab never thrived at the back end with the bat in their hands, Sarfaraz can be their finisher for the next couple of editions.

These uncapped players have the capability to succeed in IPL so they should be trusted for more time and should be retained by their respective franchises.