IPL 2018: 4 T20 specialists set to make IPL debut

IPL auction always brings surprises with its arrival, from T20 veterans going unsold to some unanticipated picks going for crores. Amidst all the auction chaos, one thing to note was that the franchises did their homework adequately this time.

The talents who missed out earlier got picked this time along with some new faces, and credit goes to the ongoing culture of T20 cricket around the world. Here is the list of specialist T20 cricketers who are set to be a part of the IPL for the first time.

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#4 Jofra Archer

The fast-bowling sensation, who was born in Barbados, played for Windies U-19s in 2013. Post that, Archer has been playing for Sussex in the County Championship since the last couple of years.

Moreover, the 22-year-old has been the find of the season in this year's BBL, picking up 15 wickets in 11 games. Playing for Hobart Hurricanes, he grabbed his best figures of 3/15 against Strikers while clicking 145 km/h regularly, thereby stealing all the limelight.

He was bagged by the Rajasthan Royals for a whopping INR 7.2 crores for his heroics with the ball.

T20 Career Bowling

#3 Jason Behrendorff

The 27-year-old plays for Perth Scorchers in the BBL

The left-arm bowler from New South Wales, Jason Behrendorff's strength is to swing the ball in powerplay and pick up early wickets. He is one of the most economical bowlers with the new ball in T20 cricket.

The 27-year-old plays for Perth Scorchers in the BBL and has been a significant part of their consecutive title wins in seasons 2 & 3.

Touring India last October for T20Is, he made his point by bowling a match-winning spell, scalping big-fish Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey. Perhaps this made Mumbai Indians buy him for a bargain INR 1.5 crores.

T20 Career Bowling

#2 D'arcy Short

Only batsman to score 500+ runs in BBL 07

The Hobart Hurricanes' top order batsman came into limelight when he scored eight fours and three sixes against a potent Sydney Sixers bowling attack in the BBL debut and rose to fame.

D'arcy Short is a batting all-rounder, a flashy left-handed opener, and a slow left-arm unorthodox bowler. The leading run-scorer in BBL this season has already drawn comparisons with David Warner, earning a call-up to Australia's T20I side for the ongoing tri-series.

Rajasthan Royals put their faith in the southpaw to perform in the Indian conditions by signing him for INR 4 crores.

T20 Career Batting

#1 Evin Lewis

His highest T20 score came against India last year

Born in Trinidad, the mighty left-hander is not much different from his idol Christopher Gayle, who likes to tear apart the opposition bowling-attack right from the word go. In fact, Evin Lewis got lucky enough to open alongside "universal boss" in the CPL, only to make him play the second-fiddle in his 97-run knock off just 32 deliveries.

The thumb rule to find an IPL contract is to perform against India, which was followed perfectly by the 26-year-old, scoring two T20I hundreds against the Blues in Florida and Sabina Park respectively. Mumbai Indians took the note and roped him in for INR 3.8 crores.

T20 Career Batting