OPINION
Follow UsThe Indian Premier League (IPL) is currently the biggest platform for exciting new players to showcase their craft and propel their game to a whole new level. The 14th edition of the competition has seen debutants shine for their franchises, especially pace bowlers. While there are still quite a few who await their IPL debut, we take a look at the best XI of IPL rookies from the season so far.
Shah Rukh Khan
One of the consistent performers in the Tamil Nadu team that won the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Khan has shown a lot of promise with his abilities in the middle order. He put in impressive performances at the beginning of the tournament including a 36-ball 47 against CSK albeit in a losing cause. Despite scoring 17 runs in the last three innings, he has shown promise as a finisher who can get better with few more opportunities.
Lalit Yadav
The Delhi all-rounder was picked up by the Capitals after a great limited-overs outing in the 2021 season where he scored 348 runs, claimed 16 wickets from 12 innings. It was a decent outing for the 24-year old in his maiden IPL campaign as he claimed three wickets and scored 54 runs from the two innings he came out to bat. His inclusion in five matches so far could see him presented with more opportunities by the DC management.
Rajat Patidar
After finishing the second top scorer for Madhya Pradesh with three fifties in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021, Patidar gained a place in the Royal Challengers Bangalore XI in four matches this season. He started off cold with scores of 8 and 1 in the first two matches but scored 31 in the next two matches at a quick pace during the middle overs indicating that there is much more to come.
Virat Singh
The left-hander has been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit since 2019 raking up 932 runs in 25 innings in the shortest format. The dismal form of SRH also reflects on the 22-year old’s performances as he scored 15 runs from 26 balls he faced batting in the No. 4 position. He will be hoping for more opportunities in the remainder of the tournament if opener Jonny Bairstow does not return to play this year.
Dawid Malan
Dawid Malan could be the middle-order anchor Punjab Kings need as he impressed with his run-a-ball 26 in his first IPL match against Delhi Capitals. Kings will hope the southpaw can be back for the remainder after the England and Wales Board said that the national team will be busy with other tours during the two free windows this year.
Fabian Allen
A late arrival to the Punjab Kings’ squad, the West Indies all-rounder fared badly on his debut, conceding 30 runs from 3 overs against Mumbai Indians. However, he was the best Punjab bowler in his second game against Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling 13 dot balls in his four-over spell and claimed the only wicket of the innings. His batting in the low-middle order can be a good option for KL Rahul’s side depending on the conditions.
Jhye Richardson
After his sensational performances in the Big Bash League and Sheffield Shield, Jhye Richardson was bought by Punjab Kings for a price of Rs 14 crore. The Aussie has shown pace but has erred on multiple occasions conceding over 10 runs per over from the 11 overs he has bowled in his three appearances for the Kings. However, his count of 85 wickets from 70 T20 matches is an indicator that the 25-year old is a quick learner and could benefit from the IPL suspension to make corrections.
Chetan Sakariya
One of the best finds this season, Sakariya claimed seven wickets and has the best economy of 8.2 among players who have played all the matches for the Royals. The Saurashtra pacer’s ability to swing the new ball and use of variations at the death garnered high praise from the Royals’ director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara.
Kyle Jamieson
The biggest buys in RCB’s history at Rs 15 crore, Kyle Jamieson has been impressive in his debut season and was crucial in the team’s early season form with his pace and bounce. He has claimed nine wickets from seven games with a strike rate of 16. He has also shown he can be useful in the lower middle-order as he scored 59 runs from five innings at a strike rate of 143.9.
Riley Meredith
The Punjab Kings man has impressed with his pace and bounce in his debut IPL season claiming four wickets from five matches. His performances had also made it difficult for seasoned players such as Moises Henriques and Chris Jordan to find a place in the starting XI. There is still much to learn for the 25-year old who is yet to get acclimatized to bowling in sub-continental conditions.
Lukman Meriwala
Meriwala was the driving force behind Baroda’s run into the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final as he finished second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 15 wickets. In Delhi Capitals, which is full of promising domestic talent, the left-arm pacer played just one match and claimed the prized wicket of Mayank Agarwal against Punjab Kings.
