IPL 2021: Uncapped Indian players to watch out for in the tournament

The truncated Indian domestic season this year- comprising of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT)- ended recently. With many IPL as well as national players in the mix, the quality of cricket on display was of a very high level. Thus, the players picked by the franchises from the domestic circuit for this season’s Indian Premier League (IPL) are not likely to be lagging to win their skills and mentality with the international stars.

In fact, given their level as well as that of the domestic cricket in India today, many may spring a surprise to emerge as key players with their performances. Here is a look at some of the prominent names from the domestic circuit who were bought in the recent auction and will be hoping to continue their fantastic form in the IPL as well.

Uncapped Indian players to watch out in IPL 2021

1. Jalaj Saxena

While he has been a part of the IPL many times before with the Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Saxena is yet to play a game in the tournament. However, while his name was always taken up as a predominantly longer-format bowler, the situation seems to have changed this time as he comes into the Punjab Kings ranks having unambiguously established himself as a competent shorter-format bowler as well.

In the SMAT this year he was the 3^rd highest wicket-taking spinner amongst the Indian IPL playing spinners (17 of them) while having the joint-highest bowling average with Rahul Chahar. The rich vein of form continued in the VHT where he took 8 wickets and his economy of 3.74 was the lowest amongst all elite team spinners.

Saxena’s utility lies in the fact that he is not just another finger-spinner who can perform one or two things well but ticks all the boxes that a team needs from a spinner in the format. He is well to do in opening the bowling, reliable enough to fetch wickets at any juncture of the game, and a real miser in conceding runs.

It is not an exaggeration but as assured a deduction as it can be that ability, as well as numbers-wise, there is not much that separates him from the best spinners that will display their skills this season. What he needs is someone to recognize his worth and with a legendary spinner in Anil Kumble’s form as the coach of the team, Saxena may just be the one to look out for this time.

2. Sachin Baby

Baby’s eye-catching displays in SMAT- which included truly stunning innings against Haryana that almost resulted in a win for his team from a situation of no hope, were able to fetch him a spot in the RCB squad at the auction. In the VHT, too, he was in fine form scoring 198 runs in 6 innings, which included two fifties. He is also a handy off-spinner and can roll his arm over if the team requires.

His ability to effortlessly clear the boundaries and not needing time to get going effectively means that he may be the answer the team is looking for in its search for a reliable lower middle-order batsman.

What works in his favor is that he has played for the team before and knows the IPL environment, while his game, as well as temperament, has tremendously evolved since then.

3. Sheldon Jackson

Jackson moved to Pondicherry in the domestic circuit this season and one of the objectives behind it, he stated, was that perhaps his performances would get more noticed in a team that was not as strong as his previous one, Saurashtra. His thinking seemed to pay off as he emerged as one of the highest scorers in the SMAT with 242 runs at an average of 80, which was good enough to fetch him a place in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad at the auction.

He continued his form in the VHT, scoring 227 runs from 5 innings. His consistency in the domestic circuit this year can be gauged from the fact that he was one of the only two elite group batters to score a century in both tournaments.

KKR, just like RCB, require a reliable Indian batsman in the middle-order and Jackson can fulfill the requirement, as he happens to be the only in-form player amongst the available options. His ability to work the gaps as well as the power he possesses, by which he can accelerate in no time, further bolsters his case for a spot in the team.

4. Chetan Sakariya

Sakariya has had a tumultuous past few months. He had a stellar SMAT, where he managed to pick 12 wickets in 5 games, at a mere average of 8. As soon as the tournament ended, the news of his brother’s death reached him, which had been kept hidden so that it would not affect his performance.

In the auction that followed, Rajasthan Royals (RR) picked him for 1.20 Crore Rupees and he managed to put the dark clouds behind him as the good form continued in the VHT, where he scalped 8 wickets.

Sakariya has displayed traits of a young Bumrah- confidence, accuracy, miser, and most importantly, wicket-taking ability.  RR struggled to find an able partner to Jofra Archer last season, and with him confirmed to miss out on at least the first four games this time, Sakariya will have to play a key role if his team has to do well.

~Written by Rohit Prabhudesai