IPL 2018: 8 players who could be the Trump Card for their respective franchise 

We are just days away from the start of the much-anticipated Indian Premier League 2018. Teams have spent millions of dollars to buy players, whom they think will bring success to them. Some relatively unknown names went for a lot of money, implicating the importance of having a surprise element in the team.

We have seen it in the past that T20 is not just about having a star-studded lineup but having players who can impact the game in a short span of time. Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, Krunal Pandya, Rashid Khan, and Manvinder Bisla have surprised everyone in the past.

On that note, let’s take a look at the players who could be the Trump Card for each franchise.

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Billy Stanlake

Stanlake took BBL by storm

Stanlake is relatively an unknown commodity to many Indian cricket fans. He stands at almost seven feet and can swing the ball beautifully. He consistently clocks 150 kmph and impressed everyone with his control and bounce in the BBL 2017/18. He took 11 wickets in the 2017/18 Big Bash League at an economy of 6.47.

In the recently concluded Trans-Tasman T20I tri-series against New Zealand and England, Stanlake finished as the second highest wicket-taker. He took 8 wickets in 5 games at an economy of 8. He has been touted as the future of Australian limited overs cricket.

Rajasthan Royals - Rahul Tripathi

Tripathi was excellent last season

Rahul Tripathi caught the attention of many in IPL 2017 when he scored 391 runs in the tournament at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 146.44. He opened the batting for Rising Pune Supergiant in IPL 2017 and was very effective in the powerplay, as he scored runs quickly and consistently.

He was an integral part of the team as Pune finished runners-up in the tournament. With 43 fours and 17 sixes in just 267 balls in IPL 2017, Tripathi is definitely a player to watch out for in IPL 2018. Rajasthan Royals bought him for Rs 3.4 crore and he could provide the X-factor for them. Though his current form is patchy, he has all the potential to repeat his IPL 2017 magic.

Kolkata Knight Riders - Kamlesh Nagarkoti

Future of Indian pace attack, Nagarkoti

Kamlesh Nagarkoti is definitely one of the finds of the recently concluded under-19 World Cup in Australia. The 18-year-old Indian pacer took the tournament by storm when he consistently clocked 145 kmph.

Nagarkoti took 9 wickets in 6 matches and gave away just 147 runs. More than the wickets, his willingness to run hard and bowl fast is something which caught the attention of everyone.

He bowls a steady line and length and possesses an excellent yorker. He can vary pace and bowl the slower one deftly. Kolkata Knight Riders did not waste any time and bought him for a huge price of Rs 3.2 crore.

Royal Challengers Bangalore - Washington Sundar

Sundar impressed for Pune last season

Washington Sundar has been a consistent performer in the Indian domestic circuit for quite some time. When all the attention was on Kuldeep and Chahal, Sundar silently stole the limelight with some good performances.

The spin bowling all-rounder was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 3.2 crore at the IPL auctions. With 8 wickets in 6 games, Sundar finished as the highest wicket-taker in the recently concluded Nidahas T20 tournament. He finished with an average of 14.25 and an economy of 5.70, bowling majority of his overs in the powerplay.

Though he does not possess a lot of variations, he controls his pace and length beautifully. He could be the missing puzzle in RCB’s quest for an IPL title.

Chennai Super Kings - Mark Wood

Wood is in excellent form for England

Mark Wood is one of the most underrated fast bowlers in the world. Only injuries stopped him from playing for England on a consistent basis.

When quite a few England players went unsold, Mark Wood found himself a suitor in Chennai Super Kings. He is the most experienced pacer in the CSK and could become an integral component of the team.

He did well in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia and New Zealand, picking up important wickets at an economy of 5. He can bowl really quick and is the fastest bowler in the current England ODI setup. He also possesses a deadly bouncer and a yorker. He could prove to be the trump card for MS Dhoni in IPL 2018.

Mumbai Indians - Siddhesh Lad

Siddhesh Lad is in stunning form right now

Siddhesh Lad is arguably the find of 2017/18 Indian domestic season. Finishing the 2017/18 season as the top scorer for Mumbai in all three formats, Lad is in the form of his life at the moment.

He scored 271 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament at a strike rate of 139 and 3 hundreds in the Vijay Hazare tournament at a strike rate of 102. He could be an ideal candidate in the Mumbai Indians middle order. He scored 70, 5, 118, 100, 10, and 129 in his last 6 innings.

Mumbai snatched him for just Rs 20 Lakh in the IPL 2018 auction and it could prove to be one of the bargains of the tournament.

Kings XI Punjab - Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal is coming off a great domestic season

Mayank Agarwal is one of the most underrated batsmen in the Indian domestic circuit. He has played 53 games in the Indian Premier League so far and scored 814 runs.

He scored more than 2000 runs for Karnataka this season in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare, and Syed Mushtaq Ali combined. He was picked up by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 1 crore but was unlucky not be selected for the Indian team to play in the Nidahas T20 tournament.

He opens the batting in limited overs game and could prove to be a vital player for the Kings XI Punjab franchise in IPL 2018.

Delhi Daredevils - Colin Munro

Munro could prove to be a huge success for Delhi

One of the bargains buys of the IPL 2018 auction. The New Zealand all-rounder was in superb form for his national team in the limited overs cricket for quite some time. Since 2017, Munro has played in 12 T20I games and has scored 497 runs in them.

The No.1 ranked T20I batsman in the world is one of the most destructive opening batsmen in the world right now. He was bought by Delhi Daredevils for a paltry Rs 1.9 crore in the 2018 auction.

Munro's strike rate in T20 cricket stands at 149 and in T20I cricket, it's 164. He has scored 4 hundreds in T20 cricket and proved handy with the ball.