Emerging Fast Bowlers this IPL!
The IPL is drawing to an exciting finish! Mumbai Indians have once again gotten the better of the Chennai Super Kings. They’re now raring to go for another title. Whoever qualifies between CSK and the Delhi Capitals, we’ve got a great contest on the cards.
It’s been a fantastic tournament for the batsmen as usual. But the bowlers this year have especially grabbed my attention. I reckon the Purple Cap list is indicative of the quality of bowling on display this season. Raw pace combined with some seriously good skills. I’m going to talk about the emerging pacers of this year’s IPL, as they’ve been on par with the spinners.
Here are my quick picks of the 2019 IPL:
Navdeep Saini (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
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The 22-year old fast bowler from Delhi was on the sidelines for a long time. IPL franchises picked him, but he did not get a single game in the last three years. I think he did enough to make it count in his debut season this year. What impressed me the most is how fearless he is while unleashing his genuine pace. Even when bowling to the big names, he has been unfazed. In the current season, Saini is the only bowler apart from Kagiso Rabada to bowl with speeds in excess of 152 kmph. He is a wonderful prospect for the Indian team and needs to be groomed well. A guy with clean action and pace to burn.
Alzarri Joseph (Mumbai Indians)
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It is sad that this young fast bowler from Antigua could only play three IPL games before an injury ruled him out for the rest of the tournament. He made the most spectacular debut for a bowler in the IPL. The 22-year old blasted through the SunRisers Hyderabad batting and returned with the figures of 6/12, best in the competition’s history. He didn’t pick a wicket in the next two matches but was impactful with his pace. I will be looking forward to his heroics in the upcoming season. He deserves all the limelight!
Prasidh Krishna (Kolkata Knight Riders)
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Having played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, I know for a fact that it’s an excellent place to breed quality fast bowlers. Last season, 23-year old Prasidh Krishna made his way to the Playing XI as a replacement for injured bowlers. I was pretty impressed by his pace then. Although he hasn’t been among wickets this season, his pace promises to make him a lethal proposition. He bowls with his heart. If he could have executed his yorkers better, he would have made a tremendous impact. Apart from Lockie Ferguson, Krishna was the only bowler who crossed the 150 kmph mark for KKR this season. When he gets his yorker right he will be right on the money! Another guy with a really impressive bowling action. Big things ahead for him.
Khaleel Ahmed (SunRisers Hyderabad)
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Ah, the good old magic of left-arm raw pace! Khaleel Ahmed has registered phenomenal numbers this season in a short span. He played only a solitary IPL game in 2018. Luckily, the franchises gave him a longer rope this year and he has repaid their faith. Khaleel’s left-arm angle serves as the natural variation and it has helped him take 19 wickets in just 9 matches. That’s an incredible outing! SunRisers struggled with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma this year. But Khaleel’s performances were heartening and they came like a breath of fresh air just when it mattered. He missed out on the World Cup selection by a whisker this time. I am expecting him to step up for India in the near future. He should have bowled out his 4 overs against the Delhi Capitals. I reckon the result may have been a different one.
