Another IPL season has come to an end with no off-field incidents dominating the seventh edition played in two countries - UAE and India. Cricket was the focus as the fans got to witness some highly-contested matches, but this season as any other previous seasons also got to see new talents proving their worth at the big stage.
Couple of them riding on their performances in the concluded IPL 7 got their maiden call-up to the Indian squad for the upcoming three ODI series in Bangladesh in mid-june. Controversies have definitely been part of the Indian Premier League but there is no second opinion to the fact that the tournament has provided opportunity to youngsters, who would have otherwise been lost in the obscurity by playing domestic cricket.
Cricketnext picks up five uncapped Indian players who left a lasting impression with their performances in IPL 7.
Akshar Patel (Kings XI Punjab): The left-arm spinner from Gujarat would not have hoped such a rewarding IPL season, which also resulted in a India call-up for the three ODI series in Bangladesh. Akshar Patel is not in the category of big turners of the cricket ball rather he keeps things simple and bowls to his strengths. Moreover, his height is an advantage that gives him good trajectory and loop. In IPL 7, he finished with 17 wickets from as many matches with an economy of 6.13.
Manan Vohra (Kings XI Punjab): Prior to the auction, Kings XI Punjab retained Manan Vohra and the youngster didn’t disappoint the team with his bat opening the innings. He didn’t start for Punjab earlier on with the team giving Cheteshwar Pujara a chance, but when this move failed, Vohra was drafted in for the last five games of the group stage. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and scored 324 runs from eight matches at an average of 40.50. As a batsman he looks complete and plays straight and added to that Vohra is a natural timer of the ball.
Yuzvendra Chahal (Royal Challengers Bangalore): The 23-year-old legspinner from Haryana was a revelation in the seventh edition of IPL. Again he does not spin the ball that much but is not afraid tossing the ball up and has a deceptive googly in his armoury. Chahal turned out in every game for Bangalore and was skipper Virat Kohli’s strike bowler in crunch situations. After Bangalore’s campaign ended, Chahal had 12 wickets at an economy of 7.1.
Rishi Dhawan (Kings XI Punjab): Rishi Dhawan is an asset for any team for his both batting and bowling abilities. He is more of a bowling allrounder and for Punjab he was a decent fifth bowler option, who can score few runs down the order. The Himachal Pradesh cricketer who was the highest wicket-taker in the 2013-14 Ranji season is not express speed but has the skills to trouble any batsman. Dhawan finished with 13 wickets at an average of 28.07.
Kedar Jadhav (Delhi Daredevils): Delhi Daredevils like their failed campaign in IPL 7 also wasted Kedar Jadhav by playing him down the order. Nevertheless the Maharashra player did well with the limited chances he got and if Delhi would have batted him top of the order their story could have been different. Yadav is a natural stroke player and by finishing as the top scorer in the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season with 1223 runs, which included six centuries he has proved his mettle. Moreover, he has been rewarded for his brilliant run by earning a national call-up to the Bangaldesh ODI series.