5 players who can be a surprise package in IPL 2020

3. Isuru Udana

Isuru Udana was the only Sri Lankan to be sold in the IPL auction. The Royal Challengers Bangalore brought him for his base price of INR 50 Lakhs. People may have noticed Udana in the last couple of years, however, the left-arm pacer made his international T20 debut way back in 2009 in the T20 World Cup. He has had a stop-start career because of inconsistent performances.

But he has been on the radar since 2018. Udana not only improved his death bowling skills but has also added batting strength for his case as he showed in a T20I against South Africa last year by smashing a 48-ball-84. Before the IPL auction, Udana had a brilliant T20 series against Pakistan– he picked 5 wickets in 2 games at an average of mere 9.8 and economy of 7.35– which was his best performance in a T20I series.

Overall Udana has 24 wickets in 29 T20Is, but he has been remarkable in the death overs. Out of the 24 wickets, 14 have come in the final five overs. Udana has variations like the cutters and the back of the hand slower ones. RCB roped in Dale Steyn and Kane Richardson as well, but the former is injury-prone and the latter doesn’t give much with the bat. Virat Kohli has expressed the need for extra batting towards the end of the innings and Udana is capable to hit the ball hard and long.