IPL 2014: The Sidelined who need the Spotlight

After the steep uphills and downhills the T20 World Cup produced, the IPL will serve as a part 2 to the T20 blockbuster that's engulfed the cricketing world. We will also be treated to see some of the most prodigious players today - such as Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers - putting aside their ethnical differences to come together to represent their different franchises. Another thing that the IPL does is that it gives many players, who lost their places in their national sides, a chance to make an impact as they attempt to regain their merit on the international stage. This article will talk about five such players, along with why and how they will need to use this IPL as a platform to shine.

#1 Virender Sehwag (Kings XI Punjab)

Just over 3 years ago, Virender Sehwag was in prime form, finding the boundary of almost every first ball in the 2011 50-over World Cup. He continued his good run of form in the two editions of Indian Premier League that followed, too, but since then he hasn't been the same. He has struggled for runs across all formats, even during the 2013 IPL, where the Delhi Daredevils slumped to a last-place defeat. Dropped midway through Australia's tour of India during April, he was replaced by Shikhar Dhawan.

However, times have changed, and India's batsmen have had troubles at the top of the order, which was evident when Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan both looked extremely scratchy up against the bowling attacks of New Zealand and South Africa. Now that Sehwag has got a second chance with Kings XI Punjab, he would definitely look to make good use of it to slingshot himself back into the national side.