IPL 2014: The Sidelined who need the Spotlight

After the steep uphills and downhills the T20 World Cup produced, the IPL will serve as a part 2 to the T20 blockbuster that's engulfed the cricketing world. We will also be treated to see some of the most prodigious players today - such as Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers - putting aside their ethnical differences to come together to represent their different franchises. Another thing that the IPL does is that it gives many players, who lost their places in their national sides, a chance to make an impact as they attempt to regain their merit on the international stage. This article will talk about five such players, along with why and how they will need to use this IPL as a platform to shine.

#1 Virender Sehwag (Kings XI Punjab)

Just over 3 years ago, Virender Sehwag was in prime form, finding the boundary of almost every first ball in the 2011 50-over World Cup. He continued his good run of form in the two editions of Indian Premier League that followed, too, but since then he hasn't been the same. He has struggled for runs across all formats, even during the 2013 IPL, where the Delhi Daredevils slumped to a last-place defeat. Dropped midway through Australia's tour of India during April, he was replaced by Shikhar Dhawan.

However, times have changed, and India's batsmen have had troubles at the top of the order, which was evident when Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan both looked extremely scratchy up against the bowling attacks of New Zealand and South Africa. Now that Sehwag has got a second chance with Kings XI Punjab, he would definitely look to make good use of it to slingshot himself back into the national side.

#2 Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)

After seeing Virender Sehwag's name on a list, one usually does not have to look too far to see Gautam Gambhir's name. Like Sehwag, Gambhir, too, has been scratchy ever since the 2011 World Cup. Following his no impact shows against Pakistan and England in late 2012 and early '13, Gambhir was dropped from the Indian side and has not played for them since. He was the leading run-scorer for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2013 IPL, but, seeing how his Knights collapsed to a seventh-place finish and with the simultaneous rise of younger players, Gauti was shunned.

Nonetheless, the KKR management, feeling that he had more to offer them, retained him along with Sunil Narine ahead of the 2014 Auctions. This was a second chance that was fairly unexpected, judging by the fact that he did not quite live up to the $2.4 million price tag he came with. Still, as they say, "It doesn't matter how they come as long as they keep coming". As mentioned before, the Indian top order was unpleasantly sloppy whilst playing in New Zealand and South Africa; this creates a wide opening for a batsman of Gauti's calibre, and, like Sehwag, he will want to seize it with both hands.

#3 Yuvraj Singh (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Yuvraj Singh has always been one of the star performers in the Indian side. Quite capable with both the bat and ball in hand, he is undoubtedly one of India's top all-rounders playing today. However, the last few months have been turbulent for him.

After struggling against Australia and South Africa, he was subsequently dropped for the New Zealand tour and the Asia Cup. He did come back for the World T20 but looked extremely scratchy, barring one fifty he made against Australia. He was heavily criticised for his dreary innings of 11 off 21 balls in the final, which put the brakes on India's innings as they managed a paltry 130 despite losing only 4 wickets and Virat Kohli scoring 77* off 58. It is usually in times like this that Yuvraj looks to his bowling to do the trick. He was given just one over, though, in the tournament, and Suresh Raina's part time spin was preferred to his.

In light of the upcoming IPL, one cannot forget that Yuvraj has also received a tremendous 14 crore in Indian rupees (around $2.3 million) from RCB and hence has a huge responsibility to deliver. Not only is he the only capped Indian spinner in the side, but also a fourth explosive addition to the Gayle-Kohli-AB trio that has been RCB's reason for success over the past 3 years. He does look like he is in a corner here, but, after that beautiful inside-out six he hit off Mitchell Starc against Australia, I believe he has it in him to do it once more.

#4 Ishant Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The last few months have been nothing short of dreadful for Ishant Sharma. Despite being India's most experienced seamer in the ODI squad, he hardly served as an inspiration to the other youngsters, as his consistency at bowling long-hops saw batsmen across Australia, South Africa and New Zealand all take him for runs.

Even in the Tests he played, he did precious little to help India's cause and hardly looked liked the bowler who once strangled Ricky Ponting. Of late, he has literally become a laughing-stock in the social media. After James Faulkner's 30-run assault on him in Mohali, which gave Australia a jailbreak win, the digital world rejoiced at the cost of him with thousands of trolls and comics doing the rounds. Subsequently, to no one's surprise (and many Indians' joy), Ishant was not considered for the recently concluded T20 World Cup, where India all but won the tournament, just falling short as Sri Lanka turned the tables on them in the final.

This IPL is going to be a real test for Ishant, as he will look to put the past behind him. He will need to work very hard and play nothing short of his best cricket to just stay in the playing XI of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, as he will now have players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Karan Sharma, and Parveez Rasool breathing down his neck. However, in the Sunrisers camp, he will be in the company of bowling legends such as Waqar Younis and Dale Steyn. This should be a good learning experience for Ishant and a chance to search for the soul of the bowler who pulled India to a Champions Trophy win in 2013.

#5 Kevin Pietersen (Delhi Daredevils)

The past few months have been bittersweet for Kevin Pietersen. Following a traumatic Ashes tour to Australia, where his side won a solitary game out of the 13 played, he was dropped from the side and pretty much left without hope of playing for England again. This was a very controversial decision, as Pietersen has been one of England's all-time best batsmen, in addition to being their most successful batsman in a tour where Mitchell Johnson's 150 kph deliveries left their batsmen scarred, both physically and mentally.

The Delhi Daredevils, though, picked him up in the IPL 2014 Auction for Rs 9 crore (roughly $1.5 million), which is nearly the same amount he was purchased for by the Royal Challengers back in 2009. This made him the most expensive overseas recruit and the third-most expensive player in the whole of auction.

He was subsequently appointed as the captain of the side, as well. This gives Pietersen an opportunity to show his English critiques what they're missing out on and really rub it in after England saw some serious humiliation in the recent T20 World Cup, losing to the Netherlands by 45 runs. Although KP himself said that he has "nothing to prove" through his performances in the IPL, he would make a tremendous impact if he manages to pull off something extraordinary.