This has been a different IPL. The two big teams, MI and CSK, are not winning, and the runs have dried up for superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Instead, in a refreshing new phenomenon, we’ve seen a clutch of unknown but talented Indian youngsters who have taken to the high-pressure tournament like ducks to water. Here’s giving you a lowdown on these newbies who seem to be born for the big stage…
UMRAN MALIK
This tearaway, exciting fast bowler has perhaps been the biggest gain for Indian cricket. Producing sizzling pace in the region of 150kph, this ‘speed gun’ from Jammu and Kashmir has hit helmets and sent stumps flying. Against Punjab Kings at the DY Patil Stadium, this 22-year-old Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer took three wickets in a four-wicket maiden over (one batter was run out). While he had shown glimpses of his raw pace in the second half of last year’s IPL in UAE, Malik is now a more potent weapon with a lethal bouncer and yorker. It should be a matter of time before Malik plays for Team India.
M: 6, Wickets: 9, Best Bowling: 4-28, Avg: 22. 33, Economy Rate: 9.13
TILAK VARMA
MI have discovered a silver lining in a dark cloud in Tilak Varma. Like most graceful lefthanders, this 19-yearold is a delight to watch as he hits bowlers through the line and improvises with ease. He has both timing and power, as he showed against CSK with a 43-ball 51. His best knock so far has been a 33-ball 61 against Rajasthan Royals, in which his footwork against Chahal and Ravi Ashwin was perfect. An impressive white-ball show for Hyderabad in the 2021-22 season saw MI shell out 1.70 cr for him. It was a wise investment for the future.
M: 7, Runs: 183, HS: 61, Avg: 36. 60, SR: 147.58
AYUSH BADONI
Having produced impressive performances for the India U-19 team a few years back, the talented Badoni was almost lost in the maze of Indian cricket, ignored by Delhi selectors for white-ball tournaments and by franchises in three previous IPL auctions. Until, that is, he was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants. The 22-year-old was the first of the ‘unknowns’ to light up this IPL. Walking in on debut with his team in dire straits at 29/4 against Gujarat Titans, he showed both nerves of steel and 360-degree shot-making skills, smashing a 41-ball 54.
M: 7, Runs: 120, HS: 54, Avg: 30, SR: 141.17
JITESH SHARMA
The Vidarbha player is an exciting white-ball specialist. The 28-year-old is an integral part of an exciting Punjab Kings batting line-up with his aggressive batting style. Sharma’s strike rate of 164.86 tells you how valuable he is. He can hit the ball conventionally, and unconventionally as well, as a reverse ramp for four against Mumbai at Pune showed. Strokes like that had the likes of Anil Kumble and Jonty Rhodes excited in the Punjab Kings dugout!
M: 5, Runs: 122, HS: 32, Avg: 30. 50, SR: 164.86
SHAHBAZ AHMED
He has been effective at No. 6 for RCB, smashing a 26-ball 45 against Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede. His 32-ball partnership with Dinesh Karthik changed the complexion of the game. Shahbaz has consistently pitched in with his clean hitting.
M: 7, Runs: 171, HS: 45, Avg: 42. 75, SR: 147.41
KULDEEP SEN
The pacer from Madhya Pradesh, whose father runs a hair-cutting saloon in Rewa, showed his mettle on debut for Rajasthan Royals, stopping LSG from getting 15 in the last over even as they had the dangerous Marcus Stoinis in the middle.
M: 2, Wickets: 2, Best Bowling: 1-35, Avg: 43. 00, ER: 10.75
VAIBHAV ARORA
This spirited 24-year-old seamer from Himachal Pradesh may not have the numbers to sing about but is a decent prospect. He enjoyed a fantastic IPL debut for Punjab Kings, dismissing Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali while conceding just 21 in four overs against CSK.
M: 5, Wickets: 3, Best Bowling: 2-21, Avg: 54. 66, ER: 9.19
(Stats updated till before MI-CSK game on Thursday)
Instead, in a refreshing new phenomenon, we’ve seen a clutch of unknown but talented Indian youngsters who have taken to the high-pressure tournament like ducks to water. Here’s giving you a lowdown on these newbies who seem to be born for the big stage…
UMRAN MALIK
This tearaway, exciting fast bowler has perhaps been the biggest gain for Indian cricket. Producing sizzling pace in the region of 150kph, this ‘speed gun’ from Jammu and Kashmir has hit helmets and sent stumps flying. Against Punjab Kings at the DY Patil Stadium, this 22-year-old Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer took three wickets in a four-wicket maiden over (one batter was run out). While he had shown glimpses of his raw pace in the second half of last year’s IPL in UAE, Malik is now a more potent weapon with a lethal bouncer and yorker. It should be a matter of time before Malik plays for Team India.
M: 6, Wickets: 9, Best Bowling: 4-28, Avg: 22. 33, Economy Rate: 9.13
TILAK VARMA
MI have discovered a silver lining in a dark cloud in Tilak Varma. Like most graceful lefthanders, this 19-yearold is a delight to watch as he hits bowlers through the line and improvises with ease. He has both timing and power, as he showed against CSK with a 43-ball 51. His best knock so far has been a 33-ball 61 against Rajasthan Royals, in which his footwork against Chahal and Ravi Ashwin was perfect. An impressive white-ball show for Hyderabad in the 2021-22 season saw MI shell out 1.70 cr for him. It was a wise investment for the future.
M: 7, Runs: 183, HS: 61, Avg: 36. 60, SR: 147.58
AYUSH BADONI
Having produced impressive performances for the India U-19 team a few years back, the talented Badoni was almost lost in the maze of Indian cricket, ignored by Delhi selectors for white-ball tournaments and by franchises in three previous IPL auctions. Until, that is, he was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants. The 22-year-old was the first of the ‘unknowns’ to light up this IPL. Walking in on debut with his team in dire straits at 29/4 against Gujarat Titans, he showed both nerves of steel and 360-degree shot-making skills, smashing a 41-ball 54.
M: 7, Runs: 120, HS: 54, Avg: 30, SR: 141.17
JITESH SHARMA
The Vidarbha player is an exciting white-ball specialist. The 28-year-old is an integral part of an exciting Punjab Kings batting line-up with his aggressive batting style. Sharma’s strike rate of 164.86 tells you how valuable he is. He can hit the ball conventionally, and unconventionally as well, as a reverse ramp for four against Mumbai at Pune showed. Strokes like that had the likes of Anil Kumble and Jonty Rhodes excited in the Punjab Kings dugout!
M: 5, Runs: 122, HS: 32, Avg: 30. 50, SR: 164.86
SHAHBAZ AHMED
He has been effective at No. 6 for RCB, smashing a 26-ball 45 against Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede. His 32-ball partnership with Dinesh Karthik changed the complexion of the game. Shahbaz has consistently pitched in with his clean hitting.
M: 7, Runs: 171, HS: 45, Avg: 42. 75, SR: 147.41
KULDEEP SEN
The pacer from Madhya Pradesh, whose father runs a hair-cutting saloon in Rewa, showed his mettle on debut for Rajasthan Royals, stopping LSG from getting 15 in the last over even as they had the dangerous Marcus Stoinis in the middle.
M: 2, Wickets: 2, Best Bowling: 1-35, Avg: 43. 00, ER: 10.75
VAIBHAV ARORA
This spirited 24-year-old seamer from Himachal Pradesh may not have the numbers to sing about but is a decent prospect. He enjoyed a fantastic IPL debut for Punjab Kings, dismissing Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali while conceding just 21 in four overs against CSK.
M: 5, Wickets: 3, Best Bowling: 2-21, Avg: 54. 66, ER: 9.19
(Stats updated till before MI-CSK game on Thursday)
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