IPL 2022: 5 Players who turned out to be surprise packages

5. Tilak Varma

If anybody had predicted at the start that Tilak Varma would be the highest run-getter for the five-time champions this year, many would have debated over that, because Mumbai has some quality players with an added experience like Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav.

But such as been the journey for the Mumbai Indians this season with them losing eight straight matches. This shattered their confidence and a race to the playoffs was also out of their reach. Ishan Kishan who was the richest buy of the season started well in the first couple of games but failed to continue the form while the veterans like Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard had a forgettable tournament with them failing to contribute to their team’s total.

The only positive for MI right from the start of the season was the young 19-year-old, who impressed everyone with his batting. He played according to the situation and knew exactly when to attack and when not. He was the perfect left-hand middle-order batter a team could ask for to play a tough role to steady the ship. Varma finished this season on a high note with his total runs being close to around 400 (397 runs), a feat only a handful of players have achieved in their first season. People have already started to rate Tilak high and it is only in his hands to not let that go.