5 IPL Heroes who failed at the International stage

What is the purpose of contesting Indian Premier League every year? Promote youthful talent. It seeks to provide a platform for the upcoming cricketers who will blossom in the company of International cricketers. They will be a part of a world-class competition where they will have to match the highest standard and prove themselves. IPL’s motto in Sanskrit translates to “Where talent meets opportunity.”

From the previous eleven seasons, we have seen plenty of cricketers making a name for themselves in the IPL. Cricketers, whose deeds were unnoticed despite stellar performances in the Indian domestic cricket, rose in the eyes of selectors with T20 performances. Many of them went on to earn India debut on the basis of their IPL heroics. Abhishek Nayar, Pragyan Ojha, Anjinkya Rahane, Hardik Pamdya, Axar Patel, Kedar Jadhav and more recently, Jasprit Bumrah, Krunal Pandya etc. are examples of beneficiaries of the IPL.

After making the cut for the national stage, the player is on his own. While many of them are enjoying prospering international careers, there remain a few who failed to make a mark when the opportunity came calling.

Here are five such IPL heroes who could not sustain in the Indian team after receiving a break.

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#5 Saurabh Tiwary

Saurabh Tiwary made his ODI debut against Australia

The boy from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand (then Bihar), was often dubbed as the left-handed version of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Tiwary not only shared the batting philosophy, but his physical appearance was also in line with his state hero. He was a member of the Indian under-19 team that played in the 2008 World Cup.

Tiwary was signed by Mumbai Indians as an emerging youngster who held immense talent.

IPL 2010 was the turning point in Saurabh’s career. At the age of 21, he amassed 419 runs in 14 matches and was adjudged as the Under-23 player of the tournament. He had earlier stroked three centuries in the Ranji Trophy as well.

The IPL performance helped Tiwary get into the selection schemes and in June 2010, he was named in the Indian squad for the Asia Cup. Tiwary ultimately received his India cap against Australia in the ODI at Visakhapatnam. Batting at number seven, he scored 12 not out from 22 balls as India chased down 290 runs.

He was next seen against New Zealand in December 2010 where he registered a score of 37 not out. He did not bat in the next ODI and was never selected for India again. Tiwary soon lost his IPL form too, and injuries plagued him.

#4 Abhishek Nayar

Abhishek Nayar was given very limited opportunities for India

An all-rounder who is capable with the bat and can bowl with pace is the rarest commodity in Indian cricket. The importance of Hardik Pandya in the current Indian setup proves the point.

A decade ago, Indian fans hoped for glorious performances from another such all-rounder, Abhishek Nayar. Born in Hyderabad, Nayar established himself in Mumbai cricket.

The 25-year-old was picked up in the first season of the IPL by his local franchise Mumbai Indians. In the debut edition, Nayar scored 161 runs in 14 matches while batting in the lower order and had only one wicket from six overs of medium-pace. He improved his numbers in the subsequent season with a tally of 193 runs and four wickets.

Along with the IPL performance, Nayar’s impressive outings in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai helped him get into the national team.

He was selected in ODIs for the West Indies tour in 2009. Nayar did not get to bat or bowl in his first two matches. He subsequently played a single match in the Champions Trophy 2009 where he remained zero not out and conceded 17 runs in his three overs. He was never considered for the Indian team again.

#3 Parvinder Awana

Parvinder Awana played only two T20Is for India

In Parvinder Awana, India found a right-arm fast bowler who could bowl consistently with the speed in excess of 140 kmph.

The UP-born bowler made his first-class debut for Delhi in 2007 and grabbed 40 wickets from the first 12 matches across two seasons. Another successful season in 2011-12 pushed Awana towards IPL selection and he was picked by Kings XI Punjab.

The fast bowler made the most of his opportunities. Awana finished the 2012 IPL season as KXIP’s leading wicket-taker despite not playing in all the matches. He collected 17 wickets from 12 matches while conceding less than eight runs in an over. The IPL success boosted his claims for India selection.

Parvinder Awana’s international career lasted for only three days in which he played two T20I matches for India. Playing against the touring England team, Awana conceded 71 runs in his six overs in two matches combined.

The disastrous performance ruled him out of the side. He was never considered again for selection, despite another good IPL performance in 2013.

#2 Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma was MOTM on his ODI debut

The right-arm Haryana medium-pace bowler first came into the reckoning with his breakthrough performance in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season. Mohit Sharma finished as the fifth highest wicket-taker in the season.

The splendid showing earned him an IPL contract as Andy Bichel greeted him into the Chennai Super Kings setup.

The medium-pacer was an instant hit in the T20 competition. Sharma finished with a haul of 20 wickets from 15 matches in his debut season while keeping his economy rate below seven. The stupendous outing catapulted Mohit Sharma into the Indian team. He was selected for the Zimbabwe tour where India could afford experimenting.

Sharma earned the Man of the Match Award on his debut for the spell of 2/26 in his 10 overs. He then remained on the fringes of Indian ODI team and also T20I debut in the 2014 World T20.

The speedster played his last match for India in October 2015 where he was hammered for 84 runs in seven overs by South African batsmen.

#1 Mandeep Singh

Mandeep Singh won the Rising Star Award in IPL

The Punjabi youngster first made hogged the limelight with his performances in the Under-19 World Cup of 2010. He then secured the first-class debut with his state team, Punjab.

Mandeep was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010, but he faced only 11 balls in the season. He was then purchased by Kings XI Punjab in 2011 but still, the chances were far and few.

IPL 2012 proved the breakthrough season for 21-year old Mandeep Singh. Scoring 432 runs in the 16 IPL matches, he topped the run charts for Kings XI Punjab.

Mandeep was also adjudged as the winner of “Rising Star of the tournament.” The performance helped him get into the list of 30 probables for the T20 World Cup but he did not make the final cut.

In 2016, on the back of his performances in domestic cricket, selectors handed Mandeep Singh T20I debut in Zimbabwe. He featured in three T20I matches. Mandeep scored an attacking 52 not out from 40 balls in one of them and concluded the series with 87 runs from three matches. He was not picked after that.

The 27-year old may someday break into the Indian team again. Till then, his international career remains brief.