IPL 2019: One underrated player to watch out for in each team

Cricket is a game which now involves entertainment, business and various other factors other than the sporting aspect of it. Expert's opinion, popularity and style have become needful for those aspiring to make it to the top of the rungs in the game. Not all cricketers get the credit which they deserve and go largely unnoticed when the bigger picture is seen.

There are also those cricketers whose brilliant performances have always gone under the radar due to being overshadowed by some or the other reason. These underrated players have a lot to lose and to gain from their position. While there's no pressure on them to perform, they lack popularity and don't get the praise they deserve.

IPL is no different from this stat, there are many underrated players even in the IPL and most often than not, they get covered by few other star players in the team.

In this segment, let's take a look at one underrated player to watch out from each IPL team.

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Chennai Super Kings - Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner is the biggest underrated player to watch out for at CSK. While his injury last season made the headlines, little was heard when he was signed. Santner is one of the best all-rounders in the world right now and has the right balance between his batting and bowling though he usually bats lower down the order. He is a good timer of the ball and is a genuine batsman. He's also a crafty left-arm spinner known for his arm ball and the one which skids on to the bat.

He will be of great importance if CSK play in Chennai as the track supports spin bowling. Also, his presence will provide the side batting depth when they play him and he's most likely to play after the Proteas and English players leave for the WC preparations. Though he has been praised by few experts, he's largely a underrated player who can shine this season.

David Willey is another underrated player to watch out for.

Delhi Capitals - Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra

The Delhi Capitals possess a young and energetic squad peppered with an adequate dose of experienced players. Of the players in the team, the one they will look up to the most will be Amit Mishra and the Indian leg-spinner is one of the most unlucky and underrated spinners to ever play for the country.

His stats for the country are amazing and it was a shame that he didn't get more games under his belt. Post his international snub, he was never in the spotlight too much but played consistently every season only for his contributions to go largely unnoticed. He's a prominent feature in the domestic circuit and has been a fulcrum for the Delhi Capitals every season in the IPL.

He's also among the highest wicket-takers in IPL history. Despite all this, he is still a underrated player but continues to give his best for his side every season. We can expect the same intent from him this season too.

Kings XI Punjab - Mandeep Singh

Mandeep Singh

Mandeep Singh tops the list when it comes to underrated players in the IPL. The Royal Challengers Bangalore player was traded to the Kings XI Punjab in exchange for Marcus Stoinis ahead of the auction this season. Mandeep played many gritty knocks last season and was always there to take the team to a respectable total or build a partnership when the top order failed. He played under the shadow of the likes of Kohli, ABD and Gayle during his stint there and went largely unnoticed.

Mandeep also has just one international cap to his name and he must have been tried out by the selectors for a longer period as it's not fair that some players receive backing while some don't. Mandeep is the captain of the Punjab team in the domestic circuit and is a great batsman and is electric on the field. He will hope to make a name for himself playing for KXIP this season.

Kolkata Knight Riders - Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana was an unnoticed contributor to KKR's success last season. Even after 2 consecutive successful IPL seasons, Rana remains an underrated player and many don't see him to be of international cricket standard. Rana is a highly consistent performer for Delhi in the domestic circuit and has even captained them in the limited overs matches. He wore the Orange Cap for a brief period during the 2017 IPL season playing for the Mumbai Indians.

He was bought by KKR last season but his price was low when compared to other batsmen of the same caliber. He isn't even close to breaking into the Indian side and is not even a part of the India A side. An elegant batsman, a very effective part-time bowler (he picked up Kohli and ABD off consecutive balls) and a great fielder, Rana is KKR's underrated player to watch out for this season.

Mumbai Indians - Mitchell McClenaghan

Mitchell McCleneghan

Mitchell McClenaghan is one of the most underrated players in the entire league. Despite his consistent performances for the Mumbai Indians every season, he's not being accorded the recognition he deserves and has continued to be ignored by the national side. McClenagahan combines raw pace with very accurate line and length and is a strike bowler who thrives as an opening bowler. Though he doesn't swing the ball very well, he can extract lateral movement and also has a very good bouncer.

This season, he's expected to partner either Behrendorff or Malinga in the pace bowling department. He can also be used as a backup for Behrendorff and come into play once the former leaves to prepare for the WC. McClenaghan is also a pinch hitter and can be used for quick runs. His height makes him a good outfielder and he has also taken many run-outs.

Rajasthan Royals - Rahul Tripathi or Shreyas Gopal

Shreyas Gopal is handy with the bat too.

The Rajasthan Royals have few of the best players in the domestic circuit in their side and these players are among the most underrated players in the entire league. Rahul Tripathi, the opener, made a name for himself playing for the Rising Pune Supergiants in the 2017 edition of the IPL but after being bought by the side, he was placed in the middle order and was hardly effective at all. Even after seeing his tremendous potential, he continues to be underrated and will want to succeed if allowed to open the batting.

Another player who is highly underrated will be Shreyas Gopal. The spin partner of Krishnappa Gowtham, he was overshadowed by the latter's hefty price tag and expressive on-field presence. Shreyas is an orthodox leg-spinner who can turn the ball very well. A very experienced cricketer, who plays for Karnataka in the domestic circuit, Shreyas picked up the wickets of Kohli and ABD last season and was a key contributor to RR's decent season.

Royal Challengers Bangalore - Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis is one of the most underrated players in the world currently. Even after he won the ODI Player of the Year award for Australia, Stoinis isn't the first name which comes to your mind when we think of good all-rounders. This comes despite his great outing in the Big Bash League and his consistent domestic and international outings. He played for the Kings XI Punjab for two seasons and despite excelling as a utility player, not much was spoken of him.

He was traded to the RCB ahead of this season and he will look to excel for RCB this season. He can play both as an opener and in the middle order and is a good bowler and can also function as a good death bowler. He is also a great fielder and he'll want to enhance his reputation as an all-rounder with great performances this season.

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Sandeep Sharma and Shahbaz Nadeem

Sandeep Sharma

The Sunrisers Hyderabad possess one of the best pace attacks in the entire league and their entourage of Indian fast bowlers is undoubtedly the best in the league. A major part of this pace attack is Sandeep Sharma and he's one of the most underrated players in the entire league. He is a great user of the ball and swings the new ball to a great extent. He's a very economical bowler and is their best new ball bowler along with Bhuvi.

Another underrated player in their ranks will be left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem who they acquired as a trade for Shikhar Dhawan for the Delhi Capitals. Nadeem is one of the most consistent domestic and IPL performers but is yet to make his debut for the national team. He's on the verge of selection and is a key part of the India A squad and will look to get a look-in with great performances this IPL.