IPL 2018: Three South African fast bowlers who we need to see in next year's IPL

The Indian Premier League has a certain allure about it which most cricketers just can't seem to resist. The huge pay packets do go a long way in giving cricketers an incentive to participate in the tournament but it has proven to be a battleground where the finest cricketers test their skills against each other.

The attention goes to the batsmen a lot of the time but bowlers deserve just as much credit and admiration. Royal Challengers Bangalore learnt this lesson the hard way during the early stages of the tournament. They currently have one of the most dominant batting lineups in the tournament but their poor bowling cost them several key matches.

This was something which Virat Kohli himself acknowledged and it is perfectly clear that the team has placed attention on resolving this issue. Their bowling has improved tremendously as the tournament has progressed and their previous two matches just prove this fact.

One thing which has been very noticeable during this year's tournament is that the importance of quality fast bowlers is something which teams cannot ignore. Another thing which fans would have noticed is the shortage of South African fast bowlers in this year's tournament. This is particularly surprising as South Africa has some of the top fast bowlers in World Cricket at the moment and not having them feature in this tournament has been a bit of a shocker. Lungi Ngidi impressed many people on debut for Chennai Super Kings and is certainly a player who they will want to keep. Chris Morris has also bowled well for his franchise when required. South Africa still has a lot to offer.

To be fair, there are a few valid reasons why some players were not selected. Nonetheless, this article will look at three South African fast bowlers who simply need to feature at next year's Indian Premier League tournament.

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#1 Morne Morkel

Morne Morkel recently retired from international cricket after the Test series between South Africa and Australia but has shown that he still has a lot to offer any bowling attack. The tall fast bowler went unsold at the IPL auction this year but this is a mistake which should not be repeated during next year's IPL season.

Why Morne Morkel?

Nobody can deny the talent which Morne Morkel has. He often took the backseat in the South African squad to players such as Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander but there is no questioning his ability with the ball.

A lot of the current fast bowlers being selected would struggle to match Morkel's pace and bounce. This is something which would set him apart from other bowlers - particularly on Indian surfaces.

He showed signs of tremendous improvement in his bowling just before he retired. Many batsmen would have been relieved that Morkel took that decision to call it quits on his career and be delighted at not having to face him again.

This alone proves what a danger the man still is and why he should be brought back to terrorize batsmen yet again.

#2 Kagiso Rabada

To be fair, Kagiso Rabada was meant to feature during this year's IPL but was ruled out of the season just days before the tournament kicked off.

Rabada is an exceptional bowler. He has the ability to bowl with pace and control as well as possessing one of the most deadly yorkers which a batsman can come across. He has also become quite skilled at bowling during the power play overs as well as at the death and this is something which franchises in the IPL have often required from their pace attack.

The Delhi Daredevils were unlucky to have lost Rabada due to injury but should still keep him in their plans for next season. He might have been the player who could have made the difference for them this season and could very well be the man to change their fortunes next season.

#3 Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn has missed out on a lot of cricket due to injury and his exclusion from this year's Indian Premier League is understandable. However, the South African fast bowler is expected to make his return during the Test series against Sri Lanka and Steyn has made it clear that he still has a lot to offer.

There are a lot of people who feel that the time has come for Steyn to call it a day and to retire. Steyn has often hit back at this by saying that he still feels that he has a lot left in him and is even intent on making it to the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Steyn is a phenomenal fast bowler and is easily the greatest in the modern era. He has the ability to take wickets and turn a match on its head and this is something which seems to have been forgotten during his time away from the game.

If Mitchell Johnson can still find a way to get selected it certainly should raise a few questions as to why Dale Steyn should not be selected. Seeing them both opening the bowling for the same franchise would make for a deadly combination and a delight for the fans.