IPL 2018: 5 veteran players who need to prove themselves this year
Over the years the Indian Premier League has witnessed a lot of players turning into bright prospects and a lot of veterans turning pale. Every year youngsters get opportunities which can help them to transform their career and take it to a new high as the IPL is considered as the sweet shortcut to success.
The IPL has helped to shape up the careers of many renowned players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah.
In the first decade of the league, a lot of experienced cricketers participated and made a better name for themselves. Veterans such as Chris Gayle made a reputation of being hard hitters who could be crucial to any team's chances in the shorter format albeit the Gayle storm is fading away slowly and steadily.
There are many other veteran cricketers who are fading away with their increasing age and decreasing fitness. They will have a point to prove in this edition of the IPL.
On this note, let us take a look at five veteran players who have to prove themselves in this edition of the tournament.
#5 Harbhajan Singh (Chennai Super Kings)
Harbhajan Singh is one cricketer who has played for only one IPL franchise till date. He was procured by the Mumbai Indians in the first season and has featured in 136 matches for them across the ten seasons of the league.
He has been one of the most committed cricketers to have taken the field for the Indian side. His heroics in the 2001 Eden Gardens Test are still etched in the memory of every Indian fan.
The off-spinner has scalped 127 wickets with an economy rate of 6.95. He has made useful contributions with the bat as well, his highest score of 64* came when the Mumbai Indians were in jeopardy against the Kings XI Punjab.
He has picked up only 17 wickets in 25 games in the last two editions whereas he took 18 wickets in 15 games in the 2015 edition. His wicket-taking ability is slowly fading away but the turning pitches in Chennai may help the off-spinner to get back into the groove.