IPL 2022: Best Benched XI from the fourth week

We are halfway through the biggest T20 league in the world and it is getting better and better as we are moving ahead in the tournament. From now on we can expect a dramatic shift in the points table as some teams will reassemble the troops,  their game plans, and go all guns blazing as the league reaches its business end. This week was no short of a blockbuster. It had all the ingredients like drama, action, tragedy (Covid cases in DC camp), and the good old climax delivered by the likes of David Miller and the ever so cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The fourth week of IPL 2022 was exceptional for the table-toppers Rajasthan Royals as they continued their flourishing form. The five-time champions Mumbai Indians are doomed as they are still winless and reeling at the bottom of the points table. The fear of disqualification is looming large, courtesy of their 7-match losing streak. At the end of the week, the Delhi Capitals camp had to face the perils of Covid as six of their players tested positive including Tim Seifert and Mitchell Marsh. Not too long after, one of DC’s coach Ricky Ponting’s family members tested positive as well. Ponting himself tested negative but will be in quarantine for five days. How unfortunate for the Capitals?

Talking about being unfortunate, some players did not get an opportunity to be in the playing XI but deserved a spot in their respective teams. These players have full potential to turn the tables for their sides, while some in-form teams may choose to remain largely unchanged but if necessary this lot of players can surely chip into their advantage. It’s high time for the backbenchers in the points table to realize the capabilities of these individuals and make use of the talents in their ranks to change their fortunes as they enter the second half of the tournament.

1. Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis is not a novelty when it comes to the shortest format of the game. The rapid scoring Trinidadian cricketer is the third batsman to score two T20 international centuries. He was in the scheme of things in the first two weeks and bagged the player of the match in LSG’s second game against Chennai Super Kings. In his 50 T20 international outings, he has amassed 1423 runs at an impressive average of 30.9 and strike rate of 155.5. His IPL record is decent as well.

Lucknow Super Giants bought him for 2 crores as a top-order enforcer. His destructive batting won the game for LSG wherein he played a match-winning knock of 23-ball 55 in an arduous 211-run chase. After a couple of outings from that match-winning performance, he hasn’t really got a chance to demonstrate his talent. Evin Lewis is someone who can give quick starts to the innings which are mighty essential while chasing big targets.

Lately, Lucknow Super Giants have their concerns in the middle order as finishers like Marcus Stoinis are sent way down the order when it gets tough to seal the difficult task of chasing targets. To make the run-chases easy and accessible to the finishers, Evin Lewis can be used at the number 3 position to give that early boost at the start of the run-chase or even when setting a target. He is a proven T20 bloke who can win games upfront in the innings. So, LSG should look at him as a game-changing prospect for their upcoming games.

2. Baba Indrajith

This steady Tamil Nadu middle-order batsman has the most impressive first-class average since the start of 2016. Internationally speaking, Afghanistan’s Bashir Shah, New Zealand’s Devon Conway, and South Africa’s Obus Pienaar are the only three batters with better averages than Baba Indrajith. Since the 2016 season, he has amassed 2512 runs at an excellent average of 66.10 in 33 first-class matches. He has that ability to steer the innings as the situation demands. Doubling up with his wicket-keeping abilities, he can be an asset for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

He has worked on his white-ball game in recent years and made exceptional contributions for his domestic side i.e. Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Indrajith has got all the shots in the book and can embolden the KKR middle order as it seems a bit out of place at the moment. He is certainly someone who can give that much-needed steadiness in the middle phase of the innings.

After Sheldon Jackson’s average performance with the bat, he is the next Indian wicket-keeping option for Kolkata Knight Riders with much more reliable batting abilities. KKR’s game plan has always been to attack throughout the innings but they need the dependability in the middle order to hold the unwanted downfall from one end. With the likes of Andre Rusell, Nitish Rana, and Shreyas Iyer dominating the opposition from the get-go, Baba Indrajith can certainly be an anchor for KKR in their upcoming ventures.

3. Yash Dhull

Ever since he led India to the U19 World Cup title, there have been a lot of expectations from Yash Dhull. He capped his World Cup journey with centuries in both the innings of his Ranji Trophy debut. In the wake of his superlative run, Dhull was picked by the Delhi Capitals (DC). He spearheaded the Indian batting at the U19 World Cup and made a match-winning contribution in the final.

The Delhi Capitals have been facing some glitches in its middle order with Rovman Powell and Lalit Yadav struggling to make any contributions. Dhull can come in as a handy replacement as Delhi look to tighten their screws ahead of the business end of this edition of the IPL. Yash Dhull is a complete package of finesse and power combined. 

Dhull can rotate the strike in the middle order and allow Pant to play his natural game because it would amplify their team dynamics going ahead in the tournament. Delhi is expected to make some changes ahead of their next game which is against Kolkata Knight Riders after their losing effort against the Rajasthan Royals.

4. Gurkeerat Singh Mann

The Punjab middle-order batsman has been in the IPL circuit for many years now. Gurkeerat Singh Mann has proved his mettle in the IPL and got an India call-up in 2015-16 based on his big-match performing capabilities for India A and Kings XI Punjab. He made some valuable contributions for Punjab since the time he featured in the team and played an important part in that 2014 season where Kings XI Punjab lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in the finals.

This year he is with the Gujarat Titans who are doing pretty well so far in the tournament. But their over-reliance on Shubhman Gill in the top order will be something they would like to amend as the tournament moves to the business end. Gujarat Capital’s batting depth is also a matter of concern as they depend heavily on Hardik Pandya in the lower middle-order. They need someone like Gurkeerat who can stabilize their upper-middle order and play free-flowing shots to keep the scoreboard moving.

The forms of Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, and Vijay Shankar are not helping the Gujarat Titans either. The Hardik Pandya-led side has some work to do in the batting department as the tournament is approaching the second half of the league stages and Gurkeerat Mann can be used as a floater in the top order to provide the acceleration while chasing a big total and as an anchor while setting the total with Shubhman Gill at the other end. It is high time that Gujarat Titans use his services in the upcoming phase of the league.

5. Mahipal Lomror

Mahipal Lomror has shown what he is capable of with the bat in the previous edition of the IPL. A fast-scoring left-hander who can hit it miles away and can bowl left-arm spin. The youngster has proved his worthwhile playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the previous editions of the IPL. The left-hander, who was part of the 2016 U19 World Cup squad, was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the auction earlier this year. 

With the middle-order struggling to make significant contributions, Lomror could be inducted into the middle order to add some firepower. He can be handy with both bat and ball at the latter stage of the tournament. His inclusion will certainly solidify RCB’s playing XI, as he can add a new dimension with his left-arm spin. 

The 22-year-old Mahipal Lomror will bring that much-needed overall well-roundedness to the RCB squad. The youngster has got that six-hitting ability and can maneuver the ball in all directions. He has got the ability to access match situations and can improvise accordingly. Bangalore can surely utilize this resource to lift their much-awaited maiden IPL Trophy.

6. Tim David

The Singapore-born all-rounder Tim David played two games so far this season for Mumbai Indians (MI) but failed to make a mark. He has managed 14 runs so far at a strike rate of 100 with the highest score of 12. The 26-year-old cricketer, who fetched INR 8.25 crores at the mega auction earlier this year, has failed to justify the hefty price tag. Owing to his poor form, he was left out of the Mumbai playing XI. 

With the five-time champion struggling to find their first win after losing seven matches on the trot, Mumbai should definitely pick him in the upcoming games as it is getting next to impossible for qualifying in the play-offs and most importantly to return to winning ways. A T20 specialist, David has got the skill to deposit the ball a long way and is a pretty beneficial partnership breaker as well with his gentle medium pace. In his 89 T20 matches he has scored with an excellent average of 33.3 and an outstanding strike rate of 158.6.

With Kieron Pollard struggling for form as well, David can provide the much-needed firepower in the lower order alongside Suryakumar Yadav. If he manages to fire on all cylinders, Mumbai can certainly end their losing streak in their upcoming game. 

7. Sam Billings

The Englishman has been a T20 franchise cricket flag-bearer as he has played in almost every well-established T20 league in the world. He has gained a lot of experience while playing in these tournaments and that shows in his game as well. The wicket-keeper batsman has played some match-winning knocks for his former franchise – Chennai Super Kings. Although his numbers don’t speak for his true capabilities as he has always been in and out of the playing 11 in most of his IPL stints so far and he comes way down the order as well.

His most impressive knock came for the Chennai Super Kings wherein he scored a match-winning 56 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2018 edition. This time around he is with the Kolkata Knight Riders who are struggling a bit in the points table at this stage of the tournament. Their middle order has been a matter of concern as the likes of Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer and Sheldon Jackson are not performing to the fullest of their abilities. To solidify their middle order, the English wicketkeeper can be a good choice.

Kolkata Knight Riders need someone who can make sure they remain in the game till the last ball of the match while chasing a big total. Sam Billings can provide them that much-needed steadiness in the lower middle order. As the tournament is entering the second half, Kolkata Knight Riders will require the services of Billings when the situation arises of a nail-biter at the crucial stage of their journey in the tournament. Sam Billings can surely play that finisher role for the Kolkata Knight Riders as the tournament progresses forward.

8. Chetan Sakariya

IPL 2021 was a dream come true for Chetan Sakariya. Representing Rajasthan Royals, he bagged 14 wickets at an impressive economy of 8.19 runs per over. He then went on to represent India in the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. His swing and seam bowling was appreciated by many legends of the game. He has a beneficial knack for performing under pressure when the stakes are high.

However, he is yet to play in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league. The Delhi Capitals (DC) management has shown trust in Khaleel Ahmed, who has done exceptionally well so far in the competition. Moreover, with Mustafizur Rahman playing, they are unlikely to play three left-arm fast bowlers in the playing XI. But Delhi Capitals have started to lose their hold in the bowling department as it is getting predictable for the opponents with similar packs of bowlers like Mustafizur Rahman and Khaleel Ahmed operating at the start of the innings. 

But with the tournament approaching the business end, we might see Sakariya at some point in the next couple of matches as they will try him in the death overs and also in the powerplay with his exceptional seam bowling and slower ball delivering abilities. Delhi capitals can utilize his seam bowling skills on the tracks of the Wankhede and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai in the second half of the league stage.

9. Sandeep Sharma

The veteran speedster is yet to get some game time on his return to Punjab Kings (PBKS) for IPL 2022. Sandeep Sharma has been the spearhead of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) bowling attack over the years. He has been a consistent performer with the new ball and gets crucial wickets in the powerplay overs. His ability to seam the ball is no surprise to anyone.

With Punjab leaking runs in the last couple of overs, skipper Mayank Agarwal might look to make some changes and tighten the screws as the tournament approaches its end. This might open doors for Sandeep, who has done the job time and again for the teams he has played for. With the league entering the second half it will be necessary to get him on board as Punjab’s game plan has been ‘all attack with the bat’ but without a decent bowling squad, it is difficult to win the crunch moments in the game.

His partnership with Arshdeep Singh will embolden their pace attack and it will be a good mixture of seam and swing bowling at the start of the innings. Overall, he has 112 wickets under his belt in 100 IPL matches at an economy of 7.79 runs per over. Punjab definitely needs Sandeep Sharma to get them the early breakthroughs which are nothing short of gold dust in the shortest format of the game.

10. Mayank Markande

Mumbai Indians are in desperate need of resurrection. The fear of disqualification is looming large on the five-time trophy lifters. All their plans have failed miserably till this stage of their campaign. Their overdependence on Jasprit Bumrah is making life tough for them. The seven-match losing streak has made their journey almost impossible for the playoffs. They need to make some changes as soon as possible if they want to make sure they stay in the tournament, even though very remotely.

Mayank Markande, the right arm leg-spinner was picked by the Mumbai Indians team in the 2018 season. He clinched three scalps on his IPL debut. His contribution was a major factor that helped Mumbai Indians to reach the finals. His IPL record speaks for itself, he has bagged 16 wickets in 18 matches with an amazing economy of 8.54. In the 2018-19 Ranji Tournament, he was the leading wicket-taker for his domestic side- Punjab, with 29 wickets in six matches.

In this 2022 IPL, he has been benched by the Mumbai Indians until now. Mumbai’s bowling department has been under the radar for the whole first half of this season. The attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, is failing match after match with no significant contributions coming from the batsmen as well. The likes of Jayadev Unadkat, Tymal Mills, and Murugan Ashwin are under-performing and not delivering the wickets upfront in the innings. Mayank has that wicket-taking knack that can be used in both the powerplay as well as in the middle phase of the innings. If they want to change their fortunes, Mumbai Indians need to play this youngster.

11. Tim Southee

This Kiwi fast bowler needs no introduction as his body of work is quite remarkable and well known in the International circuit. Tim Southee has always been that go-to bowler for his international side – New Zealand and the IPL franchises he has been associated with. In his 92 international T20 matches, he has taken 111 wickets with an impressive economy of 8.19. And in his IPL outings, in 45 matches he has taken 36 wickets with a decent economy of 8.59. Certainly, he is someone who has proven his worth in all formats of the game.

The Kolkata Knight Riders are struggling to contain runs in the latter part of the innings since their first game of the tournament. They are hurting themselves by leaking loads of runs in the crucial stages of the match, i.e. at the death. Pat Cummins, Andre Russell, and others have been on the higher side of the economy. Kolkata needs someone who can be a wicket-taker as well as an economical prospect. Tim Southee is someone who can play that anchor role in the bowling department for KKR. 

If Kolkata Knight Riders want to cruise ahead in the latter part of the tournament they will need Tim Southee and his skills to shine, as many matches can go the high scoring way in which he can utilize his experience to put brakes on the opposition’s onslaught when it is of utmost necessity. Pat Cummins would be the one who will need to step aside if Tim Southee wants a position in the playing 11. Cummins has been leaking a lot of runs, although he has been pretty beneficial with the bat but the batting contributions solely are not enough from the Australian test skipper. If KKR wants to create an impact with their bowling they will have to go with Tim Southee as it seems the only reliable option at the moment.

Note: For this article, matches are considered only until Friday, April 22.