Uncapped players in IPL 2015: A sneak peek
IPL is always known as an arena that breeds lesser known talent, both domestic and international. Right from its first edition, in 2008, which shot explosive Australian batsman Shaun Marsh to fame to the last concluded edition, 2014, which helped local boy Axar Patel win a national call, it has brought forth a handful of able cricketers to limelight.Being the most watched T20 tournament on the planet, it brings great recognition to top class performers. Acknowledging this trend, franchises have, of late, been involved in extensive talent scouting, which helps them spot unique players from leagues unknown. This edition is going to be no different.Almost all the franchises, except for Sunrisers Hyderabad, have invested on a good number of uncapped players this season. Let us know take a sneak peek on to the profile of these little known talents:
#1 Chennai Super Kings
1. Andrew Tye:
Andrew Tye is a 28-year-old Australian bowling all-rounder who is currently contracted to Western Australia and Perth Scorchers domestically. Despite being a late bloomer, he turned out to be a revelation during the 2013-14 RYOBI One-Day Cup, finishing as the tournament’s second top wicket-taker with 13 dismissals in five games.
He was seen as a breakout player for Perth Scorchers in the 2014-15 Big Bash League season, with the Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch labelling him as the 'find of the tournament’. Tye can be handy with the bat too; he made an unbeaten 76 from 47 balls in a first-grade game for Scarborough.
2. Pratyush Singh:
Pratyush is a little-known leg-spinner from Jharkhand who was purchased for Rs. 10 Lakhs. This 20-year-old has represented Delhi at the Under-19 level. He might not have much of a role to play for the Super Kings this season given the sheer number of spinners the team already has in the side.
3. Ankush Bains:
Ankush Bains is a Himachal Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman who has also represented India at the U-19 level in the 2014 World Cup; he right-handed opener notched up a scintillating 84-ball 139 against Zimbabwe in the tournament. He recently scored a 129 against Jharkhand in a Ranji Trophy match, as well.
4. Eklavya Dwivedi:
This 26-year-old is a wicket-keeper from Uttar Pradesh. He was first signed by Pune Warriors India in the IPL 2011 season, but hasn’t yet played a game in the grand T20 tournament. However, he has played 21 T20s so far at the domestic level maintaining a strike-rate of 130+. In the ongoing Ranji season, Dwivedi slammed an unbeaten 102 off 73 deliveries to steer Uttar Pradesh to a seven-wicket win against Railways, thus helping them avoid relegation.