IPL 2020: 5 uncapped players to watch out for

The 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just a few weeks away as the big names of the cricket world gear up to clash against each other in the toughest T20 league on the planet. Over the years, a lot of players have established themselves as match-winners using the platform that IPL provides.

The IPL could be credited for several Indian team mainstays such as Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar among many others.

If we were to make a generalisation, then two sets of Indian players try to play their best in the IPL. The first are those who have gone out of the selection committee’s favor and the second one comprises the uncapped players who look at IPL as a ramp to jumpstart their national careers.

The target of both the sets of the players is to make their place in the national team and the following 5 uncapped stars will have the fans and selectors’ attention in IPL 2020.

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#5 Suryakumar Yadav - Mumbai Indians

Can Suryakumar Yadav maintain his fine form in the IPL?

Despite playing alongside the likes of Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock and Kieron Pollard at Mumbai Indians, Suryakumar Yadav has stood out in the batting department. In IPL 2018, Yadav amassed 512 runs in just 14 matches with his average being 36.57. He scored these runs at a decent strike rate of 133.33.

Though his numbers took a dip in the 2019 edition of the IPL, he still scored over 400 runs in 16 matches. His highest score in IPL 2019 was 71* wherein he registered two half-centuries. Yadav has been the epitome of consistency for Mumbai Indians and he will be the key to success for them once again in IPL 2020.

#4 Shreyas Gopal - Rajasthan Royals

Shreyas Gopal was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for just 20 lakhs

The demand for leg-spinners in T20 cricket is sky high and there is a cut-throat competition prevailing in the Indian team as well. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are now fighting for one spot in the team but there is one wildcard in this race named Shreyas Gopal. The right-arm leg-spinner from Karnataka impressed a lot with his bowling skills in the last two IPL seasons.

Donning the Rajasthan Royals jersey, Gopal featured in 11 matches of IPL 2018 where he scalped 11 wickets with his best figures being 4/16. The 2019 edition of IPL proved to be the best of Gopal’s career as he picked up 20 wickets in 14 games for Rajasthan. His economy rate of 7.22 shows that he kept a strict check on the run-flow and if he betters his performance in 2020, he may soon break into the Indian team.

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#3 Krishnappa Gowtham - Kings XI Punjab

Krishnappa Gowtham gained the limelight in IPL 2018

Former Rajasthan Royals star, Krishnappa Gowtham stole the show with his all-round brilliance for the Jaipur-based franchise in IPL 2018. He scored 133 runs at a blistering strike rate of 196.87 while also taking 11 wickets with the ball. Unfortunately, he could not continue his fine form in IPL 2019.

Since the Rajasthan Royals had bought him for a high price, the owners traded him out to Kings XI Punjab ahead of IPL 2020 Auction. Under the guidance of Anil Kumble, Gowtham will look to make an impact for the Preity Zinta-owned franchise as the fans would monitor the upcoming all-rounder’s performances.

#2 Nitish Rana - Kolkata Knight Riders

Nitish Rana has not been able to maintain his consistency

Nitish Rana has always been at his best in the earlier stages of the tournament but as the IPL progresses, Rana's form witnesses a dip. He has scored 300 runs in each of the last three seasons but the cricket universe knows that the aggregate could have been near the 400 runs mark had the left-handed batsman played with consistency.

Kolkata Knight Riders will expect the Delhi-based player to be at his destructive best in IPL 2020 because they have stacked up their resources by including Eoin Morgan and Tom Banton in the side. With Andre Russell and Shubman Gill already present to wreak havoc, the Kolkata-based franchise may run away with the title if Rana supports his teammates to perfection.

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#1 Devdutt Padikkal - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Devdutt Padikkal will make his IPL debut in 2020

While all the other players on this list have played multiple IPL seasons, Devdutt Padikkal will make his debut in IPL 2020. The uncapped player from Karnataka will garner a lot of attention after his exploits in the domestic circuit. Playing in the domestic circuit, the 19-year-old batsman has aggregated 580 runs in just 12 T20 games.

He has recorded one century and five fifties in those 12 outings which reflects the incredible talent possessed by him. Royal Challengers Bangalore have always had issues with their opening pair but if Padikkal gets going for them this year, then RCB will become the team to beat.