Another Edition of the IPL is about to end in a few days. The current season has turned out to be a damp squib for some of the reigning T-20 champions like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishen etc. However, some uncapped players have created a storm this time and turned the atmosphere in the T-20 carnival electrifying. So, let us take a look at some players who came into the tournament with zilch to minimal expectations but eventually set the grounds on fire.
Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Not many have heard of this Madhya Pradesh batsman prior to the Eliminator match between RCB and Lucknow Super Giant. In fact, he got ignored by all the franchises in this year’s auction, including his current one RCB, but the Bengaluru franchise eventually signed him as an injury replacement. After being on the sidelines for many games, Patidar finally made it to the playing XI due to the poor form of Anuj Rawat. He took a while to hit the straps but boy! when he came into his own it was a sight to behold. If RCB find themselves afloat in the current IPL then no amount of credit would be adequate for the 54-ball 112 runs scored by Patidar in the knockout game against Lucknow. The LSG, the favourites prior to the match, literally got drowned by the weight of Patidar’s knock in the end.
Mohsin Khan (Lucknow Super Giants)
This left-arm seamer from UP’s Sambhal district is another surprise package of this season. Inspired by his bowling role model Zaheer Khan, Mohsin has troubled some prolific batters this season by using angles to good effect and hitting the deck quite hard. At 5.25, he has the best powerplay economy rate in the IPL. His best bowling figure this season came against Delhi Capitals when he took 4/16 and aside from this, Mohsin had two three-wicket hauls against Kolkata and Punjab. Resultantly, Lucknow won all the matches but it is a pity that they have crashed out from the present edition despite the scintillating performances by Mohsin Khan.
Tilak Varma (Mumbai Indians)
It is no joke to emerge as the highest individual scorer of a much-fancied team, comprising of a galaxy of T-20 icons. Therefore, many are presently pinching themselves to assure that they are not in their dreams as they come across the runs scored by Varma (397) this season. Without an iota of doubt, this 19-year-old remains a rare positive for a side that endured a wretched time this year at the marquee event. He deserves all the praises for the way he played his part as a middle-order batter for MI wherein he looked always assured at the crease. Hope he builds on this success and dons Team India colours soon.
Ayush Badoni (Lucknow Super Giants)
This Delhi lad happens to be another brilliant performer for LSG this season but with the bat. Though he scored only 161 runs in this year’s IPL all those came at crucial junctures in various games. The fifth highest-scorer for LSG this season, gave a glimpse of his immense potential when he scored a quickfire fifty against Gujarat Titans in the league game. Badoni also happens to be a 3-dimensional player as he is also very agile on the field and can occasionally turn his arm over for some effective off-spinners. So, he has all the abilities that teams desire in the slam-bang version of the game, and it goes without saying that a bright future awaits this 22-year-old, provided he sustains the current momentum.
