IPL 2019: 5 Indians to watch out for this season

Can Rishabh Pant deliver at the IPL?
Can Rishabh Pant deliver at the IPL?

The IPL is just a couple of days away and the excitement has already reached fever pitch. The 2018 edition was an overwhelming success with the return of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings adding another layer of intrigue.

The current season too has several interesting sub-plots lined up. With the World Cup following close on the heels of the IPL, millions of eyes would be trained on how the players stand up to the rigours of the latter.

Like many an occasion before, the cash-rich league would provide the ideal platform for youngsters, both international and Indian, to carve a niche for themselves in the cricketing fraternity.

Thus, through the course of this article, we chalk out five Indian cricketers who are likely to set the world alight with their performances in the IPL.

Without further ado, here is a look at them:

Honourable Mentions: Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians) and Mayank Agarwal (Kings XI Punjab)


#5. Manish Pandey (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Manish Pandey would hope for a better showing this year
Manish Pandey would hope for a better showing this year

Manish Pandey has been an IPL ever-present since a hundred in the 2009 edition captured everyone’s imagination. The right-hander has accumulated a total of 2499 runs in 118 games at a relatively healthy average of 28.07.

However, he had a season to forget last term with the Sunrisers as he tallied 284 runs in 15 games at a middling strike rate of 115.44.

Yet, the 2019 IPL could be where the lad from Karnataka makes his mark again.

In the domestic circuit, Pandey was in decent form as he helped his state side reach the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy whereas he also formed a vital cog of the Karnataka side that lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Moreover, he has looked relaxed and doesn’t seem to be weighed down by the expectations, something he was guilty of last time round.

Over the years, Pandey’s greatest asset has been his ability to score at a fast clip from the outset. Capable of executing every shot in the book, the batsman is equally adept at handling pace and spin. Though these attributes went slightly AWOL last term, his rich vein of recent form makes him one to watch out for.

On his day, there aren’t many batsmen who can match his elegance and shot-making prowess. And if he clicks for the Sunrisers, the Orange Army would fancy themselves to go a step further and hold the trophy aloft come May 2019 in Chennai.

#4. Dinesh Karthik (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Karthik has a lot to prove in the IPL
Karthik has a lot to prove in the IPL

For the home series against Australia, Dinesh Karthik was given the boot as the Indians decided to take a punt on Rishabh Pant. The latter failed to inspire and courtesy his patchy form, the former could yet find himself in the World Cup scheme of things with a superb IPL.

The Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain excelled in his first season as skipper in 2018. Karthik amassed 498 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 147.77. Thus, highlighting that the extra responsibility enhanced the right-hander’s displays.

However, with a potential World Cup spot on the line, one can expect Karthik to scale a higher peak this term.

In the away series in Australia and New Zealand, the wicket-keeper didn’t do much wrong and was on hand to dig India out of trouble when required, indicating that he’s in decent form.

Additionally, the presence of power-packed batsmen around him would allow Karthik to bat through the innings and control the tempo.

KKR narrowly missed out on the final last year when they lost to the Sunrisers in the 2nd Qualifier. However, with a fit and firing Karthik in their ranks, they can genuinely harbour hopes of a 3rd IPL crown.

#3. Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)

Pant could be Delhi's star again
Pant could be Delhi's star again

Rishabh Pant has long been looked upon as Dhoni’s successor. Though the wicket-keeper has adroitly made the Test wicket-keeping spot his own, his performances in white-ball cricket have often let him down.

In the recently concluded home series against Australia, Pant was handed the keeping gloves in the final couple of ODIs. However, he failed to live up to his billing and mounted unnecessary pressure upon himself. While the said setback could negatively influence most, the failure might just end up galvanising the left-hander.

The IPL has always been Pant’s favourite stomping ground. Last season, he bludgeoned his way to 684 runs in 14 innings, including a sublime century against Sunrisers. In the process, he also became the youngest batsman to breach the 1000 run barrier in the IPL.

Thus, one can expect Pant to come out all guns blazing as the Delhi Capitals open their 2019 campaign on the 24th of March.

And after everything that the left-hander has gone through in recent months, there would be no better way to silence his critics than turning up for the IPL with his swashbuckling style.

#2. Shreyas Iyer (Delhi Capitals)

Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer made his international bow in November 2017 and was touted as a bright prospect. Yet, the right-hander has flattered to deceive, culminating in a grand total of 12 appearances across ODIs and T20Is.

In the past year, Iyer has gone off the boil a touch with him not in the running for a place in India’s middle order. In the initial stages of the 2018 IPL, he didn’t create the impact expected of him. However, after being handed the captaincy reins mid-season, he looked a different batsman altogether.

The batsman is set to lead the Delhi Capitals this season too and would hope to lend weight to his reputation as an exceptional white-ball cricketer. And if his domestic form is any indicator, one would be naïve to write him off completely.

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Iyer smashed 484 runs in 10 innings which was laced with two breathtaking hundreds against Manipur and Madhya Pradesh.

Moreover, with India’s No.4 spot still up for grabs, the Capitals’ captain would feel that a stirring performance could still open the door for him.

Hence, the 2019 edition could just be the season where Iyer finally comes of age and realises his vast potential.

#1. KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)

Rahul looks primed to leave a lasting impression
Rahul looks primed to leave a lasting impression

Over the past few years, not many have frustrated and mesmerised in equal measure as much as KL Rahul. On the days when he gets going, he looks at par with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Yet, on the unsuccessful outings, he appears totally listless.

However, fortunately for him, the latter phase seems to be behind him and after a tumultuous 2018, it couldn’t have come quicker for the opener.

In the T20I series at home to Australia, Rahul starred with the willow and reminded the world of his astronomical abilities.

Though the extravagant shots were always around the corner, he mixed caution with aggression superbly. The right-hander looked a lot more composed at the wicket and went about his business playing relatively risk-free cricket. Thus, these new-found qualities could place him in better stead to excel.

Additionally, Rahul is still in line to fly to England for the World Cup. But, for that to happen he would need to distinguish himself at the IPL.

However, in light of his previous exploits in the IPL, one would be very brave to bet against him.

And while players such as MS Dhoni, Kohli, Rohit, AB De Villiers and Chris Gayle have rightly hogged the pre-season limelight, a right-handed opening batsman from Karnataka could yet make the biggest splash of them all.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram