5 Players who bettered expectations in IPL

The following players are excellent at what they do and do justice to whatever role they are given. However, doubts about their T20 skill and ability to do what it takes in the Indian Premier League (IPL) remained for long. While the common ground these five players share is that they are all best suited in the Test format because of their techniques and roles, they have also defied the notion by showing that they can be fairly good in the IPL too.

The notion stems from the idea that orthodox or technique driven batsmen cannot succeed in T20. It originates from the belief that T20 cricket requires every player to either be a clean striker of the ball or a sure shot wicket-taking bowler. However, aspects like building an inning, playing an anchor’s role and being an off-spin bowling all-rounder are just as important.

1. Hashim Amla

He is a must feature in this list because he did what many players haven’t been able to do in the entire decade of IPL’s existence. He scored two centuries in 2017 only for both of them to end in the losing cause. However, it doesn’t take away the fact that not many believed that Mighty Hash is an ideal replacement for KXIP after they missed out on Shaun Marsh due to injury.

However, he defied the talk and the Test-mould batsman played knocks that were laced with traditional cricketing shots. Whatever his approach, it was effective. In his first season in 2016, he scored 157 runs in 6 matches, including one 96-run knock. The next season Amla was in terrific form as he scored 420 runs in 10 matches, including the two centuries and two half-centuries. However, he was unsold in the 2018 auction. It is unclear why because he proved his T20 prowess in 2017. It may perhaps be the age factor.

2. Murali Vijay

Another batsman believed to be cut out for playing the longer format, ‘The Monk’ has proved his worth as a T20 player for the three franchises he has played so far. For Chennai Super Kings, he has been a core player at the top which saw him being bought by the side in 2018 auctions as well. He has had his own share of ups and downs in the league, for example, the initial matches in 2012 or his below par performance in 2014.

Just when questions started to arise on his T20 abilities, he rose up to answer them all in 2016 when he was appointed skipper of KXIP in the middle of the season. The franchise may not have tasted success as such but his 453 runs that consisted of 5 half centuries meant something. He missed out in the IPL in 2017 due to an injury.

3. Wriddhiman Saha

It’s hard to imagine Saha in the blue jersey even though he is the best stumper in India. It has a lot to do with MS Dhoni’s presence in the squad too but Saha’s name isn’t even mentioned when talking about Dhoni’s successors. Still, it majorly has to do with his struggles to go big at the position he bats. He is a sure-shot feature in the Test team when fit, but that factor takes out reliability even when he is playing.

Similarly, in T20, Saha is not a finisher or a hard-hitter who can do the job at anywhere below 5, yet it is the role given and the job expected out of him. Despite his shortcomings, Saha has not shied away from playing some very memorable knocks for Kings XI Punjab, where he was most utilized.

He is also the first and only cricketer to score a century in an IPL final which came against KKR, although in a losing cause. In 2017 too, he scored an unbeaten 93 off 55 against Mumbai Indians when he was promoted to open the innings. This year, Saha who not only boasts of some incredible work behind the stumps but has amassed over 1500 runs in the league, will be playing for SRH.

4. KL Rahul

KL Rahul’s style was apparently not suited for limited-overs cricket in general, according to popular opinion. However, his success in the Indian colours changed that notion and his performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 was just a glimpse of how a relatively technically sound wicketkeeper-batsman could do in T20 too. His 397 runs including 4 half-centuries were a big factor in RCB’s excellent year in 2016.

He became one of the costliest players in the 2018 auctions to be bought by KXIP for 11 cr. While his wicket-keeping has appeared shoddy several times during his time in RCB, he can more than compensate for his batting at the top or even the middle order in case he doesn’t fit at the top.

5. Ravindra Jadeja

There was very little clarity about which format Jadeja was best suited in but slowly and steadily, he established himself as a must-have in an IPL team. He first shone after he helped Rajasthan Royals lift the coveted trophy in 2008. It was in 2012, however, that CSK bought him for approximately Rs. 9.8 Cr. After that, under the able guidance of MS Dhoni and with the presence of spin twin R Ashwin alongside, he became iconic Sir Jadeja. He was vital for Gujarat Lions in the last two years too but it wasn’t Jadeja at his best.

In a total of 138 matches that he has played in IPL, he has 82 wickets to his name with the best being 5/16. He has an economy of 7.81 in the IPL. His batting has grown considerably in the last couple of years so expect better performances with the bat, more so that he claimed Dhoni will give him more chances to bat. But as far as his batting is concerned so far, he has 1732 runs under his belt. An average of 24.05 and strike rate of 122.83 makes Jadeja a dangerous batsman down the order.