IPL 2017: 5 unsung heroes
As the IPL 2017 season is springing towards its climax, the jury is out on which player justified his value and which player hasn’t. Every team has its own set of superstars who have led from the front with sensational innings and exceptionally good bowling spells.
But, cricket is a team game and behind the big stars, is a concerted effort put in by several others, some of them stars in their own right and yet, kept away from the limelight because there are only so many players the media can discuss and the commentators and TV anchors can rave about.
Foreign stars like Ben Stokes, Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan and Steve Smith have done their bit for their franchises. Here, we look at five players who have quietly gone about their jobs, making important contributions right through without really being hailed as sensational. It could be because of their general presence and demeanour or a possible overshadowing by other bigger players in the team. They certainly deserve their due!
#1 Rahul Tripathi
The 26-year old unhailed player from Maharashtra won’t be eligible for the Emerging Player award. He is not someone the shutterbugs will catch the very first time. Tripathi is quiet, humble and almost star-struck himself, in whatever we have seen during interviews of him. Nevertheless, he has managed to give Pune Rising Supergiants sensational starts despite the fact that Ajinkya Rahane has been a virtual non-performer this season.
Tripathi is second only to his skipper Smith with 360 runs in 11 innings at an impressive strike-rate of 151.89. His average is 32.72, more than respectable for someone who has a 150+ strike-rate. With two half-centuries, Tripathi has managed 39 fours and 16 sixes showing his amazing range.