IPL 2015: 5 unknown overseas players to watch out for

With the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) barely a few weeks away, now seems to be the ideal time to dwell upon the teams and their chances. The auction had thrown up quite a number of interesting issues: the likes of Martin Guptill went unsold, while little-known KC Cariappa turned out to be the cynosure of all eyes.Among all those foreigners who ended up grabbing a contract, let us take a look at those relatively unknown five who could make it big if given the opportunity. It is of considerable interest to point out that four of the five names here belong to the nation that regained the ODI World Cup earlier this week.

#5 Andrew Tye

Loaded with all-rounders and fast bowlers like Matt Henry and Kyle Abbott, Chennai Super Kings went for the surplus as they spent another 20 lakhs on the uncapped 28-year-old Andrew Tye. The choice of a not-so-young bowler with hardly any experience in domestic circuit startled fans and pundits alike, but CSK has always been known to invest on those who are likely to matter.

The latest reference to Tyes potential can be traced to the Perth Scorcherss game against Melbourne Stars in the semifinal of the Big Bash League in January this year. Booed by the WACA crowd for facing a maiden last over, Tye returned with the ball in hand to scalp two wickets in the 11th over. He finished with impressive figures of 4/18, a feat that steered his team to victory for the third time in a BBL semi-final against the Stars.

The Australian will be eager to make a mark if given enough chances by the CSK selectors in the days to come.

#4 Gurinder Sandhu

Standing at 194 cm, Australian pacer Gurinder Sandhu debuted against India in January picking up Ajinkya Rahane with the eighth ball of his ODI career, courtesy the awkward bounce he tends to generate time to time. A promising right-arm bowler who bats left-handed, Sandhu shot into the Australian scene by winning the Steve Waugh Medal for the best New South Wales cricketer at 19 years of age.

The 21-year-old of Punjabi descent who will be turning up for the Delhi Daredevils scooped up a deal worth Rs. 1.7 crore after having put down his name for a base price of Rs. 30 lakhs. The ability of swinging the ball both ways that added to his incisiveness in the 2013-14 Ryobi Cup is sure to provide some trouble for the batsmen upfront given his penchant for bowling back of a length.

Having Zaheer Khan as his teammate, Sandhu is likely to master a few tricks about reversing the old ball too a prime weapon in the longer version of the game. However, he may find it difficult to feature in the XI given the possibility that one between Albie Morkel and Nathan Coulter-Nile may turn out to be the favourite for the fourth overseas player spot.

#3 Marcus Stoinis

A top-order batsman of the Shane Watson mould who can be handy with the ball, Marcus Peter Stoinishad to work hard for the limited opportunities he has so far managed to get in the Australian domestic circuit. As an unflattering medium pacer, Stoinis failed to deliver with the Warriors, where he was already getting limited chances, before he moved to Victoria.

Piling up runs for Northcote saw the doors opening as he was picked for the Sheffield Shield in the 2013-14 season. He repaid the faith in the selectors by crafting a magnificent 170 against Tasmania an innings that has come to define his career.

With the likes of JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock, Angelo Mathews and Albie Morkel already in the Delhi Daredevils squad, it seems unlikely that the 25-lakh buy will get a substantial number of matches. No alien to limited opportunities, Stoinis will be keen to perform and get into the good books of the selectors as early as possible.

#2 Travis Head

Delhi Daredevils essentially scooped up quite a deal when they bought Travis Head at his base price of Rs. 30 lakhs. While the move may seem not too progressive for the player himself, since the squad is already loaded with eight other foreigners, there is no doubt about the quality that this Australian brings to the game and the potential he possesses.

A promising left-handed batsman, he shot to fame when he accepted skippers responsibilities for the Redbacks, thereby becoming the states youngest captain ever at 21. The Player of the Championship in the Under-19 National Championship 2012-13 has been a consistent contributor for both South Australia and Adelaide Strikers, the latest being a 34-ball 71 at Melbourne against the home team.

Playing second fiddle to regular wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock, his skills with the gloves are bound to provide him a distinct edge over the likes of Marcus Stoinis and Albie Morkel in the occasion of the South African getting injured.

#1 David Wiese

Royal Challengers Bangalore fans were leftstunned when the Vijay Mallya-owned outfit shelled out Rs. 2.8 crores for an unknown South African in the IPL 2015 auctions. 29-year-old David Wiese, however, was gradually maturing into an all-rounder par excellence in the countrys domestic circuit, which was further established when he scalped a five-wicket-haul against the West Indies in a T20I two monthsback.

15 wickets in 8 T20 internationals at an average of 12.53 is impressive enough. Add to that his strike rate of 160.25 in 59 T20 games, and you are looking at a potential No.7 who can use the long handle of the bat as regularly as he can be destructive with his medium pace.

The Titan, who smacked a century and picked up 6/58 in a first-class encounter at Centurion last weekend, will be looking forward to fight it out for a place in the RCB line-up. The Bengaluru outfit will certainly regret not giving a player of his caliber adequate opportunities if it comes down to that.