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The 11th edition of IPL is just around the corner and the buzz is only increasing by the day. Every team has some underrated performers in their ranks and a few good performances from them on the biggest Twenty 20 stage can change people's perception. For instance, players like Nitish Rana and Basil Thampi were unknown before last year's IPL but became stars after it.
Every team has such players, those who aren't expected to do much but might as well turn out to be the dark horses. Here's a look at such players from each team.
Chennai Super Kings- Murali Vijay
Murali Vijay is India's opener in the longest format of the game. Murali Vijay has never succeeded as a limited overs player for India. Murali Vijay has played for 3 IPL teams, CSK, KXIP and DD. He will return to CSK this year, the franchise where he proved himself as someone who had the skills to be a T20 player. He was bought at his base price of Rs. 2 cr.
His T20 stats are pretty good. He has scored 3727 runs in 151 innings at an average of 26, he has a strike rate of 122.
He has the ability to play the anchor role or be the aggressor. In a star-studded batting line-up, people won't carry a lot of hopes from a batsman who is perceived as a Test match batsman.
Delhi Daredevils- Vijay Shankar
Vijay Shankar is an all-rounder who plays for Tamil Nadu in the domestic circuit. He bowls medium pace and is a very good batsman. He has been one of the most consistent performers in the domestic circuit for the last few years. He first shot into the limelight, while playing for SRH. He made his international debut in the recently concluded Nidahas Trophy.
His T20 records are very ordinary. He averages 23 with the bat and has a strike rate of 121. He has bowled 32 times and has gotten 16 wickets, his economy rate with the ball is 8.75. He might not get a lot of opportunities with the ball as it is still work in progress. The only time he batted in the Nidahas Trophy, he scored 17 runs in 19 balls which is poor, when compared to the modern day standards. He got a chance with the bowl in all matches but didn't utilize them. He only got 3 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 51, his economy rate of 9 isn't acceptable as well.
He will be used as a utility player in Delhi Daredevils. Considering he hasn't been in good form, people might not expect a lot from him. In a star-studded team, a lot of people may overlook Vijay's name which makes him the dark horse for all the fans.
Kings XI Punjab- Mujeeb Zadran
Mujeeb Zadran is only a 16 year old and has already created waves for the way he bowls. He is a mystery spinner who plays for Afghanistan. He is an off-spinner who can also bowl leg spinners and googlies, which add variety to his bowling ammunition. He picked up 17 wickets in a youth ODI series against Bangladesh in 2017. He has been a part of the Comilla Victorians in the BPL. He had represented the Bengal Tigers in the inaugural edition of the T10 league. He bowls predominantly with the new ball.
His T20 stats are pretty good. He has picked up 7 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 28. His economy is excellent for someone who bowls in the power play, it is only 6.45. He has picked up 13 wickets in the 6 games he has played so far in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier. His economy of 3.53 is superb because he has bowled the majority of his overs in the power play.
He was bought for Rs. 4 crores at the IPL auction by KXIP. He could be the X-factor for KXIP in the bowling department. He will be the surprise package as nobody in the Indian Premier League has played him. Even the fans don't know him.
Kolkata Knight Riders- Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill is one of the most exciting cricketers in India. He has also been tipped as the next Virat Kohli by a few. He is an aggressive batsman who likes to take the attack to the opposition. He plays for Punjab in the domestic circuit.
He has never played an official T20 match. He has been in good form off late as he scored 372 runs at a strike rate of 110 in the recently concluded U19 World Cup. He had also scored a century for Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He excels at playing the pull shot, which is also his favourite shot.
He is likely to bat at no.3 for the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2018. He will be the dark horse in the race for the orange cap due to his excellent stroke-making ability. Considering that, none of the bowlers know his style of playing will give him an added advantage. All these factors make him the dark horse.
Mumbai Indians- Rahul Chahar
Rahul Chahar is an 18-year-old leg spinner who plays for Rajasthan. He had previously played for the Rising Pune Supergiant in IPL 2017. He had picked up wickets of stalwarts like Hashim Amla and Brendon McCullum in the limited opportunities he was presented with last season. He has played for the India U19 team but missed out on selection for the U19 World Cup.
He has been in good form off late, he picked up 6 wickets in 4 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His record in T20s is excellent. He has bowled 6 times and picked up 8 wickets at an average of 20. His economy of 6.95 is phenomenal for a leg-spinner.
Rahul Chahar is going to play a key role for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming edition of IPL. When a team has players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Bumrah, not a lot of people will focus on the unknown youngsters, making Chahar the dark horse.
Rajasthan Royals- Krishnappa Gowtham
Krishnappa Gowtham is an all-rounder, he plays for Karnataka in the domestic circuit. He is an off-spinner and an aggressive batsman. He was there with the Mumbai Indians last season but he didn't get an opportunity to play.
His T20 stats make for good reading. He has played 27 matches and picked up 20 wickets at an average of 28.95 and an economy of 7.06. His batting strike rate of 160 is phenomenal. He didn't have a great outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He only got 4 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 37, he had an economy rate of 7.12. He averaged 21 with the bat and had an excellent strike rate of 148.
Although he was bought for a high price, he still remains a relatively unknown commodity. When these factors are combined with his hitting and wicket taking abilities, he could be the surprise package in a star-studded Rajasthan Royals outfit.
Royal Challengers Bangalore- Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav has been out of the Indian team for quite some time now. Umesh Yadav is one of the few Indian bowlers who has the ability to bowl at 145 km/h. Due to the emergence of Jaspit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, his appearances for the national team is now limited to just Test cricket. He has represented 2 teams, KKR and DD. This year he will be playing for RCB.
His T20 stats are great. He has bowled 109 times and picked up 109 wickets at an average of 28, his economy rate of 8.21 is great for a bowler who bowls in the power play and at the death. Although he is perceived as a Test match specialist, his stats tell us a different story.
He is the most experienced Indian pacer in the RCB squad which elevate his chances of playing. In a bowling attack consisting of Chahal, Woakes and Coulter- Nile, he will look to go about his job silently.
Sunrisers Hyderabad- Deepak Hooda
Deepak Hooda is one of the most destructive batsmen in India. He is one of the few players in India who has the ability to finish off matches. He captains Baroda in the domestic circuit and has represented RR and SRH in the IPL. He has been touted as India's next finisher. In addition to his batting, he can chip in with his off-spin.
His T20 records are acceptable. He averages 21 with the bat and has an amazing strike rate of 143. He has bowled 29 times and picked up 10 wickets at an average of 47, his economy rate of 7.84 is decent.
He has been nicknamed the "Hurricane" for the way he bats. He would be hoping to take Vivo IPL by storm this season. In a star-studded team, not a lot will be expected from Deepak Hooda which makes him the dark horse.
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