IPL 2018 : 5 underrated Indian Bowlers in IPL

We are in the 11th season of the IPL and now everybody has accepted the fact that in the T20 format the batsmen can win you matches but the bowlers will win you the tournament. A lot of times we tend to look at the batsmen who did well but, not at the bowlers who have done well.

So here are the 5 underrated Indian bowlers in the IPL over the years.

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#5 Dhawal Kulkarni (MI, RR, GL)

Dhawal Kulkarni has played 75 IPL matches which itself tells us that he is a really good bowler because you don’t get picked for that many matches if you are not good enough.

Unlike other bowlers, Dhawal sticks to the basics and tries to swing the ball upfront. He has taken 76 wickets at a strike rate of just 19.01, which means he takes a wicket almost every 3 overs. His economy of 7.96 isn’t bad either considering the flat pitches we get these days. He had a dream season with the Gujrat Lions in 2016. He took 18 wickets in 14 games that season and helped his team to top the points table. His excellent performance of 4/14 in the 1st Qualifier almost won GL the game. He has been a consistent performer over the years in the IPL and so he slots in at No.5 as an underrated bowler.

#4 Mohit Sharma (CSK, KXIP)

Mohit Sharma won the purple cap in 2014 for Chennai Super Kings

Mohit Sharma was the purple cap holder in IPL 2014 with 23 wickets in 16 matches when he played for CSK. Another bowler who doesn’t really has the pace to scare any batsmen but will rely on his accuracy. He has a good loopy slower delivery and over the last 2 years has been bowling well at the death with a great yorker. He showed his death bowling skills against MSD in the game against CSK.

86 wickets in 78 matches with an acceptable economy rate of 8.24, speaks about his consistency in the IPL over the past few years. KXIP showed trust in him by using the RTM card for him this year and so he is slotted in at No.4 as an underrated bowler.

#3 Piyush Chawla (KXIP, KKR)

Piyush Chawla is the 3rd highest wicket-taker in the history of the IPL

Piyush Chawla is 3rd in the list of the highest wicket-takers in the IPL over the last 11 years. He is one of the four Indian spinners to have taken more than 100 wickets in the IPL. He has been absolutely brilliant for KKR over the last 4-5 years. Like many leg-spinners, he also foxes the batsmen with his googly. He has as many as 130 wickets in the IPL with an economy rate of just 7.65 which is excellent for any spinner.

Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine together formed a formidable bowling pair in the 2014 winning season for KKR. Now with Kuldeep Yadav added to the fore, they have become even more dangerous. KKR showed faith in him by using the RTM card this year and so he is slotted in at No.3 as an underrated bowler.

#2 Sandeep Sharma (KXIP, SRH)

Sandeep Sharma has a better strike rate than many other fast bowlers in the IPL

Sandeep Sharma has been one of the most consistent performers with the ball for the last few years. He was a part of the Top 10 leading wicket-takers in the IPL in 2017, 2016 and 2014 – when KXIP ended as runners-up. When he first came in the IPL he was an out and out swing bowler, but in the last 2 years, he has improved his death bowling skills brilliantly. He has an excellent yorker and now even bowls the knuckleball. He has 73 wickets in just 57 matches at a strike rate of 17.11 which is better than India’s best T20 bowler – Jasprit Bumrah.

His economy which is below 8 isn’t that bad either. He is an ideal replacement for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and that’s why he was picked by SRH in this year’s auction. It is unfortunate that he is not leading one of the bowling attacks in the IPL but he is slotted in at No.2 as an underrated bowler.

#1 Amit Mishra (DD, DC, SRH)

Amit Mishra has the most wickets by an Indian bowler in the history of the IPL

Without any doubt, Amit Mishra has to be the most underrated Indian bowler in the IPL over the years. He is 2nd on the list of the leading wicket-takers of the IPL, only after Lasith Malinga. He has 134 wickets at a strike rate of 19.87 and an economy rate of 7.45 which is absolutely sensational for any leg-spinner playing in the IPL. He has great accuracy and his leg break turns sharply, which is his stock ball.

In the very first IPL, he got his career-best IPL figures of 5/17 against the Deccan Chargers in which he even took a hat-trick in the last over. He has a hat-trick of hat-tricks in the IPL. Yes, he has 3 hat-tricks in the IPL which is the most by any bowler in the last 11 years. He is the most successful leg-spinner in the history of the IPL and nothing short of an IPL legend!