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The 2014 edition of the IPL has seen some absolute nail biters. It has seen a tougher more competitive version of a tournament which was endangered of being more entertainment and less substance. As Shakib Al Hasan said the other day, IPL is serious cricket.The league has evolved over the years and the focus has shifted from cheerleaders to true performers - the players.Overseas players like Glenn Maxwell, David Miller and AB de Villiers have definitely upped the standard of the sport and the exposure our young Indian talents have got has been tremendous.So, who are the best Indian players so far this season, who have been able to make their mark despite all the big names involved? Here are the top five:
#5 Karun Nair
Rajasthan Royals has always been this peculiar team who never depended upon big names for its success. It believes in its youngsters and they have proved time and again their worth. The likes of Ajinkya Rahane made their names heard in the international circuits thanks to the confidence that the Jaipur-based franchise shows in their home grown talents. They spend their money not on brands but on mattle. It is one of the prime reasons that the franchise has been one of the most consistent teams in IPL since its inception.
Karun Nair, a young 22-year-old chap has been hugely impressive this season for the Royals. His knocks have come at crucial times for his side and he has complemented the likes of skipper Shane Watson and Rahane perfectly.
With two half centuries, a highest of 73 not out, he has scored a total of 269 runs so far this season at an average of 33 and striking the ball at 135. He can hit it real big and also knows how to keep a cool head.
#4 Pravin Tambe
A 42-year-old small town man who has never played above the club level ended up being a sensation in the most glamorous form of cricket. This doesn’t even sound real. But it is. Kudos to Rahul Dravid for hunting this gentleman down and giving him the opportunity of a lifetime. There can be no bigger fairytale.
No. 4 goes to one heck of an inspiration in Pravin Tambe, who stays among the top wicket takers with 11 wickets and an average below 20.
Whatever the future holds for him, and whatever past had kept him away, his present looks sensational. It's his time to live his dreams and lets cherish his lore.
Tambe is definitely not tamba (bronze), he is a gold mine of talent.
#3 Yuzvendra Chahal
Royal Challengers Bangalore has a formidable bowling brigade. Daniel Vettori sits strong as the mentor and Muttiah Murlidharan, unarguably the greatest off spinner of all time, is back from his on-field hiatus. The Pace department has names like Mitchelle Starc and Ravi Rampaul. Then there is always a Yuvraj Singh factor.
With names like that in a line-up, a young indian lad can easily end up warming the benches most of the time.
Still, a 23-year-old, relatively unknown guy from Haryana, Yuzvendra Chahal has been a talk of town for quite some time. His unpredictable bowling at times has bested the likes of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. He is among the top wicket takers of the tournament and his googlies have made the batsmen dance.
With 12 wickets of 12 matches at a decent average of 26, an economy below 7 and a smile worth millions, Chahal has been quite a sight.
#2 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
This young pacer, who has become a formidable member of Indian national squad for past one year, was added to the artillery of Sunrisers Hyderabad which already had veterans like Dale Steyn and Irfan Pathan has proved to a valuable asset for the team. One can argue that he has been the only consistent cog in an otherwise shaky and on-off wheel of the team mentored by VVS Laxman.
With 20 scalps from 12 matches with an average of 14.80 and economy just over 6, Bhuvi has been the best bowler this season. This is a great feat when we see at the competition he is getting from the likes of Dale Steyn, Mitchelle Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Morne Morkel among others. They are all accomplished big time pacers, yet thwarfed by the performance of one Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bravo!
#1 Robin Uthappa
This 28-year-old Karnataka opener has proved to be the best buy for the Shahrukh Khan franchise this year. With 489 runs under his belt in just 12 matches, he is the top Indian scorer so far in the tournament.
His fiery batting has been a highlight of Kolkata Knight Riders’ resume as he has delivered consistently en route his team’s magnificent wins.
His batting is considered to be most suited for the shorter version of the game but his inconsistency has always kept him under scanner of the critics.
With four fifties this season and a great opening partner in veteran Gautam Gambhir, he has not only shut those critics but has also made himself a strong contender for a place in the national team for the upcoming English tour.
