IPL 2021: 5 Underrated players to watch out in the UAE leg

The Indian Premier League has been the most iconic feature in the world of franchise cricket. Humongous sums of money, fame and worldwide attention have made the tournament a much-anticipated part of every cricket fan’s calendar. Well, things have changed a bit since the pandemic. 

Last year, the IPL was scheduled for September. There were a lot of questions related to the tournament, and IPL did not disappoint any fan. Last year, it was successful in wooing the fans. 

This year, the BCCI decided that the tournament will be conducted as per the normal calendar. But, the rise in COVID cases across the country and a few cases across multiple camps meant that the tournament was indefinitely suspended. However, the tournament will resume next month. For the fans, let’s take a look at- 

5 underrated players to watch out in the UAE leg of IPL

5. Shahbaz Ahmed

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have been one of the three teams that have never won the IPL Trophy. Although they finished second on three occasions, they have not been able to get over the line in the finals. But, this time, they have a decent squad that can make this year a special one for the fans.

One of the major parts of any strong IPL team is its Indian pool of players, especially the uncapped players. These kinds of players will make up for the failures of big guns. Over the years, whenever a team has won the title, there has been one player, who is relatively unknown to the world and has contributed significantly. 

For RCB, this role is played by Shahbaz Ahmed. The bowling all-rounder has been a decent performer with the ball and bat. In seven games, he has picked six wickets. The best bowling figure of 3/7 showcases his talent on slower pitches. Apart from that, even though he has a strike rate of 100, he can hold on to one end of the crease. 

4. Rajat Patidar

The RCB management has done a commendable job by picking talented players from the grassroots level. Still unknown to many fans, Rajat Patidar is a big name in domestic cricket. Just when one searches for his name, the one big thing that comes to mind is his 51 balls 96. 

He has been picked for just INR 20 lakh in the auction. Even though he failed to get going in the initial games, he could be the man for RCB in the future. He was a star player in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored an unbeaten 68 from 29 balls. 

A player like Rajat can tear apart any bowling attack from the word go. Even when the likes of Devdutt are unavailable, he can open the innings for his team. Given the fact that the RCB management has been following him for the last two years, it is certain that he is their player for the future. 

3. Abdul Samad

Abdul Samad has been making the news in the sports section since his debut against Delhi Capitals last year. The fearless youngster from Jammu has been one of the finds for SRH. Even though they have not used him effectively, he has shown his skills in every limited chance he got. 

Samad has played 12 innings for the Sunrisers. Well, with a humongous strike rate of 161.54, he has been a terrific striker in the lower order. Adding on, he can bowl a couple of overs if one bowler is having a bad day. 

With the second leg coming up in the UAE, management must look to give Samad as many chances as they can. The Sunrisers are currently struggling to keep their playoff chances alive, hence it will be important for them to use their key players as much as possible. Well, Samad is morse of a big hitter and is a key player in a lineup that lacks big hitters. 

2. Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh was a member of the U-19 side that went on to lift the World Cup in 2018. Even though he got just 2 games in that World Cup, he impressed everyone with his bowling skills. And later on, he was picked up by the Punjab franchise. 

Last year, he became a vital member of the Punjab squad. And with 17 games to his name, he has been bowling excellently. Well, the economy rate of 8.97 does not showcase his efforts. But, he has been bowling in a time where others were conceding runs at a rate of over 12 runs per over.

Singh has 19 wickets to his name. And currently, if there is one bowler who has been holding the fort for the Punjab squad, it’s Singh. Sometimes, he has been more impressive than Shami. Singh should also be retained for the next auctions if Punjab Kings want someone to block the leakage of runs at an end. 

1. Amit Mishra

Yes, even after an experience of 154 IPL games, Amit Mishra is underrated. This has been the story of his career. Even in international cricket, he has been consistently overlooked. Whenever he found his touch, there was another bowler who was at his peak. 

Mishra has picked up 166 wickets in the IPL so far. And with an economy rate of 7.35, he is a legend of this tournament. Still, many fans have no idea what he is up to these days. Apart from his luck, injuries have also hampered his career. 

He has an economy rate of 6.32 in T20Is as well. Adding on, an economy rate of 4.73 in ODIs is also a terrific record. Mishra can also bat when required. Hence, he is a big asset for Delhi Capitals.