Every year throws up some surprise performers, some heroes whom people don’t think of often but who make the big runs, take the big wickets and become crucial for their team’s success. Some of these are international veterans and some local talents who have been discovered by some perspicacious scout.
This year in the IPL, we have seen some delightful players, some young ones too, who have made the world sit up and notice. Sparks of talent were seen in players like Rishabh Pant, Manan Vohra and Murugan Ashwin although consistency is still the key.
Sandeep Sharma has continued his good form from last season showing why KXIP is such a good bowling side although, their batting has rarely supported it. However, we take a look at 5 players here, who have gone beyond expectations to have a big impact on their team’s fortunes.
1) Chris Morris
That Morris has shaped up as a brilliant all-rounder for South Africa is no secret to anyone. However, it was definitely not expected that he would score the fastest half-century this IPL in just 17 balls. Morris has scored 130 runs for Delhi Daredevils with a highest of 82*, an average of 43.44 and a strike-rate of 183.
Morris has also picked up 11 wickets in 10 games at an average of 24 and more importantly at a phenomenal economy of 6.79. Add to that the fact that he bowls at the death and he has surprised everyone bringing his form for South Africa into IPL. He has been influential in Delhi doing so well. And we are the richer for it!
2) Mustafizur Rahman
He is a shoo-in for the Emerging Player of the Season Award. A great one year in short-format cricket for Bangladesh, the Fizz has troubled both India and South Africa playing at home. He was rewarded with a chunky contract from Sunrisers Hyderabad. How he would perform in India in the IPL was still being speculated.
However, he has actually managed to keep the much acclaimed New Zealand left-arm bowler Trent Boult out of the team, throughout the entire season. Mustafizur has been brilliant right through with his cutters and excellent mix of deliveries.
Fourth on the bowling list, Mustafizur has 14 wickets from 12 matches but more importantly, he has the lowest economy rate of 6.66 amongst the top 25 wicket-takers. That is a phenomenal contribution and combination of strike-rate and economy, showing why Sunrisers are top of the table.
3) Krunal Pandya
It was his younger brother Hardik Pandya who had grabbed all the limelight over the last few months playing for India. However, the tables have turned as Krunal Pandya is living it out for Mumbai Indians even as Hardik finds himself out of the team.
Krunal has been good both with the bat and ball. The southpaw has 233 runs in 8 innings at an average of 46.60, scoring at a strike-rate of 192.56 including a match-winning 86, when he clobbered Delhi Daredevils to all parts for the fourth fastest 50 this IPL in 22 balls.
The senior Pandya also has 6 wickets with an economy of 7.13 in the 29 overs that he has bowled. Now that is definitely an extremely useful bargain for a star-studded team that starts slow in the IPL every year!
4) Lokesh Rahul
Lokesh Rahul solved quite a few problems for Virat Kohli while Chris Gayle was battling bad form with a string of single-digit scores and injury concerns. Coming at the top of the order, Rahul showed that he is not just a classy Test player but can score quickly as well.
The RCB wicket-keeper has scored 332 runs in 8 innings at an average of 55.33 and a strike-rate of 143 with 4 half-centuries. That was a classy move from Kohli to promote him to the top of the order and he certainly repaid his skipper’s faith after a very shaky start.
Rahul’s top score is 68* but more importantly, he has scored most of his runs with good cricketing shots, pretty to look at.
5) Marcus Stoinis
Stoinis has been a good pick for Kings XI Punjab, one of their brighter spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign yet again. Stoinis bowled a spell of 4/15, the fourth best this year, against Mumbai Indians at Visakhapatnam wrecking their middle order and giving KXIP a win with his Man of the Match performance.
Overall, the Australian has picked up 8 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of 8.43 and an average of 24.25. He has also contributed lower down the order, scoring 146 runs in 5 innings at 36.5 with a strike-rate of 135 and a half-century. Stoinis’ impact comes on the back of a mediocre season for KXIP’s foreign players including David Miller and Shaun Marsh.
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