Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021: Top five bowlers to watch out for

#3 Akash Deep

One of the vital cogs in Bengal's bowling attack, Akash Deep is one of the more promising seamers in the domestic circuit. A bustling fast-bowler, Akash Deep runs in with a lot of rhythm and has the capability to hurry the batter with his whippy action.

His returns in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21 too make for good reading, as his seven wickets at a strike-rate of 15.40 would suggest.

Akash Deep was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore contingent as a net bowler for the IPL 2021. An injury to Washington Sundar brought Akash Deep into the main squad as a replacement player. He didn't get an opportunity to play. But he would have certainly benefitted by picking the brains of the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Kyle Jamieson.

35 wickets across nine first-class games only add on to the growing stocks of Akash Deep. One should expect a good Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign from him.

We have seen quite a few stories of net bowlers getting into the main squad and enjoying a lot of success thereon. Can Akash Deep find himself in the main roster of RCB (or any other team) next season?

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#2 Simarjeet Singh

It has been quite a journey for Delhi's Simarjeet Singh. The medium pacer was not contracted to any of the IPL sides earlier this year. But he was included as one of the traveling reserves during India's limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka in July.

The Indian camp had an outbreak of a number of COVID-19 cases. This then saw Simarjeet and the other reserves drafted into the main squad for the final T20 international.

Thereafter, an injury to Arjun Tendulkar saw the Mumbai Indians draft Simarjeet into their squad as a replacement player. An economy rate of 8.81 in the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is not the most eye-catching statistic. But a strike-rate of 13.7 certainly is. His wicket tally boasts of seven wickets across five games.

Simarjeet is a wicket taker and a regular in Delhi's lineup. A breakout season could well increase his stock among the uncapped Indian seam bowling options. Thereafter, of course, higher accolades could just be a mere formality for the Delhi lad.

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#1 Khrievitso Kense

10 List A wickets across five games at a strike-rate of 29.4. Seven T20 wickets in four games at a strike-rate of 13.7 and an economy rate under six. There is a reason why there was a lot of chatter around Nagaland's Khrievitso Kense ahead of IPL 2021.

The 17-year-old leg-spinner was called up for a trial by the Mumbai Indians. While a full-time deal didn't materialize, he was signed up as one of their reserve players.

It is well known that Mumbai Indians have a knack for identifying untapped potential in lesser-known players and grooming them into finished products. Cases in point for this are Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.

While that isn't necessarily a factor to gage a player's potential, the excitement around Kense has been rather high. A full-fledged breakout season could define what lies ahead for Kense as he might well climb up the ladder rather quickly.

Kense having another standout Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign would also come as a shot in the arm for teams in the Plate Group. Not many players from those teams have had a big platform to showcase their potential. But Kense's rise could well spark off many more lesser-known players getting the requisite attention.

Will we see special talent create ripples and storm into the limelight then? It would be some story, wouldn't it?