IPL 2021 : 5 uncapped players to watch out for in UAE leg

Indians outwardly express their love for cricket. The inception of the Indian Premier League has furthermore garnered the audacity of the craze and enthusiasm of the people for the sport. IPL has traveled the distance from Melbourne to Mumbai swiftly taking a lot of passengers along with it on the road to achieving glory. The tournament enabled all the fans to experience the breeze of change.

In a subtle way, IPL has entered the lives of people and has cemented its place with the innumerable things it has given to World cricket. It is a no-brainer that if it was not for Ajit Tendulkar who identified the knack, fans might have not witnessed a legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Recognizing talents and then grooming them is a pivotal job and over the passage of time, IPL has provided a pathway for it.

It is rightly said that ‘Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.’ In India, where the youngsters are not long out of the cradle before their hands reach to hold the bat, there is cutthroat competition. Thus every season of the IPL is absolutely dazzled by the talented players who walk onto the field aiming to make it to the big stage. The IPL has been the school that has welcomed all the students and has praised and rewarded the hard work and repertoire of many blokes. The second half of the IPL is all set to resume in the UAE and in this article, let’s have a look at the uncapped players to watch out for.

5 uncapped players to watch out for in the UAE leg of IPL 2021

1.Harshal Patel

The right-arm medium pacer has been skipper Virat Kohli’s go-to bowler for breakthroughs in the first half of the IPL. Harshal Patel has emerged as one of the most promising players. Every time RCB found themselves in a spot of bother, Patel has raised his hand and contributed to the team. RCB’s performances in this season of the tournament have rather amazed the on-lookers as unlike every time, the side has got to a good start and Harshal Patel has been instrumental for them.

In the opening fixture of the IPL 2021, which saw Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore lock horns, Harshal Patel became the first bowler to secure a fifer against the five-times champion. Picking the crucial wickets of Mumbai’s power hitters Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, he changed the game upside down for RCB. He then struck with 3 more wickets in the final over as he helped RCB restrict MI to 159-9. Harshal has scalped at least two wickets for the team in every game and has played a key role in the success of RCB.

Harshal Patel has taken more wickets in IPL 2021 than he did in his last five IPL seasons combined. Currently, he sits at the top as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament. He has so far picked up 17 wickets and there are no two thoughts about the fact that he will be crucial for the side heading into the remainder of the tournament. His presence has ticked the massive box of death bowling, which RCB had been struggling with in the past. He has grabbed the opportunity he got from both hands and would be keen to take the momentum further.

2. Avesh Khan

Avesh Khan turned many heads with his splendid spells as he shone with his standout performances in the Indian leg of the IPL 2021. He is perhaps termed as the find of the season for his remarkable consistency with the ball. Whilst the match, the pacer exuded commendable calmness, every time he walked back to his run-up. Owing to the potential he has under his belt, he got a call up for the England-India five-match Test series as a reserve bowler.

The temperament and abilities of any player come to the fore when they are up there facing the crunch moments. Avesh Khan impressed everyone with his execution in pressure situations, as Rishabh Pant turned to him when the going got tough. He was used by the skipper with the new ball and at the death as well, and amidst both the instances Avesh Khan looked in complete control of his game irrespective of the opponent. He ran in full tilt to disturb the sleeping patterns of the batters.

Avesh Khan is the second-highest wicket-taker of the IPL 2021 season so far. He has clinched 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.70. It is to be noted that amongst all the speedsters on the list, his economy rate is the lowest. The pacer has grown from strength to strength as he played just one game in IPL 2020 and no one expected him to create an impact like he did this year. An important cog in the wheel of the Delhi Capitals’ side, Avesh Khan is definitely a player that will have many eyes fixed on him.

3. Shahrukh Khan

The 25-year-old batter from Tamil Nadu was bought by Punjab Kings for Rs. 5.25 crore at the IPL 2021 auction. Shahrukh Khan is one such player who owns the attributes to play according to the situations. He can slowly take the game forward and can hit those big shots to finish off the proceedings as well. Before IPL 2021 paused, the youngster showed glimpses of his forte in the tournament by chiming in the scenario when the team needed him.

He might have not registered any big impactful scores, but his cameos helped Punjab Kings to get in better positions. Shahrukh Khan played both aggressive as well as patient knocks as the team seemed to struggle with their batting in the middle order. In the game against the Chennai Super Kings, Punjab was reduced at 19 for four in the fifth over. In came Shahrukh Khan who played a poised knock of 36-ball 47 owing to which the team was able to take the score past 100. The IPL newbie then sent the message to everyone that along with quality stroke play, he possesses the talent to anchor the innings as well.

In the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Premier League, he had a good stint with the willow. The right-hander chipped in 210 runs with a strike rate of 177.96 in the tournament playing for his team Lyca Kovai Kings. As the action of the IPL resumes next month, Shahrukh Khan’s contributions will be important for the Punjab Kings as they are placed in the sixth position of the points table. He too would be determined to arm his talent better and put up some good show with the bat in the remainder of the tournament.

4. Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore

Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore has traveled the phase of success rather impressively. He was one of the chief architects of Tamil Nadu’s triumph in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He picked up eight wickets in the tournament at an economy rate of 4.82. This followed his IPL contract with the Chennai Super Kings and then a chance to be a reserve bowler for India’s tour of Sri Lanka.

The left-arm spinner has risen through the ranks with his iron will and hunger to succeed. Being in the Chennai Super Kings’ camp for the first half of the IPL would have been a huge learning turn for him. The experience of the players in the team probably might have added more to his repertoire. In the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2021, he entered the setting a bit late but did not fail to cast his spell of talent. He stands as the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with a total of 12 wickets to his account.

He played for the Chepauk Super Gillies in the tournament who went on to win the title and the spinner had a substantial role to play in it. Chennai Super Kings is a team that trusts its process and so far they have had a good run in the tournament. Considering the form of Sai Kishore, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who believes in grooming the young talents might try him out in the UAE leg. Given an opportunity, the spinner will look forward to seizing the moment and is definitely a player to look out for.

5. Arshdeep Singh

In this frenetic format of the game, the batters get a lion’s share of appreciation but it is a fact that the bowlers leave no stone unturned to change the fortunes of the game. Arshdeep Singh has been getting some special mention for his abilities to bowl tight overs at the end. Clinching victory from the jaws of defeat requires a high level of self-belief paired up with proficiency. Arshdeep has however displayed his fiefdom by delivering when it mattered the most.

He was instrumental in the Punjab King’s victory in their opening match of the tournament against Rajasthan Royals this year. Samson had almost taken Royals to victory but Arshdeep registered match-winning figures of 3-35 as he defended 13 runs in the final over. After his good performances in the CK Naidu Trophy and Vijay Hazare tournament, he was called up for the Kings XI Punjab’s trials in 2019 and since then has been with the side. He marched the drum of his skills on his IPL debut as he scalped the wickets of Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane in his home ground at Mohali.

In the last two seasons of the IPL, he has been one of the most reliable death bowling options for the side. His execution of lethal Yorkers has fetched him praises from all around the cricketing fraternity. In the first half of the IPL 2021, the medium-pacer has picked up seven wickets. Walking into the second leg of the tournament, Arshdeep Singh would yet again wish to design the layout of success for Punjab Kings.