IPL 2019: One unexpected performer from each team

Royal Challengers Bangalore - Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini (Image Courtesy: iplt20.com)

Navdeep Saini was among the top uncapped players to watch out for ahead of the season. However, his performances as the leader of RCB's pace attack were completely unexpected.

The team's pace bowlers repeatedly let the side down as bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj were taken apart by the opposition batsmen. In such an environment, Saini picked up 11 wickets from 13 matches and was the second highest wicket-taker for the side.

He bowled with real pace and venom, constantly troubling the batsmen. In fact, he deserved more wickets than he actually got; the high rate of dropped catches off his bowling really hurt his stats.

Saini is certainly a strong prospect for the Indian national team in the future.

---

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Khaleel Ahmed

Khaleel Ahmed (Image Courtesy: iplt20.com)

Khaleel Ahmed played only one game last season and was benched for a long time even this season. The left-arm pacer is a talented bowler, but the extent to which he performed was something which surprised everyone.

Khaleel picked up 19 wickets in only nine games and was the highest wicket-taker of the side ahead of players like Rashid Khan. He had a great bowling average of 15.10 and strike-rate of 11.00, and picked up a wicket almost every time he came on to bowl.

Khaleel's stint with the Indian team has made him a seasoned bowler, and his IPL performances indicate a bright future.