IPL 2021: Five bowlers to watch out for
The Indian Premier League has the ability to showcase new talent almost every year. The T20 tournament has produced many young talents and has also helped them become better players during the course of their run. With the 14th edition of the league about to begin on April 9th, there is not even an iota of doubt that we will see a lot of young and talented players. Here are the 5 bowlers to watch out for in IPL 2021:
5. Prasidh Krishna
The 2021 season of the IPL could be a game-changing one for the young right-arm pacer from Karnataka. After making his debut for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2018 IPL season, Prasidh Krishna’s form in the shortest format of the game has been on a decline. In 24 IPL matches, he has picked up 18 wickets at 44.50. However, Krishna has been in good form with the ball in domestic cricket which also propelled him to the Indian national team for the ODI series against England at home. We can expect to see him with some rejuvenated energy in the IPL.
4. Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy was by far the find of IPL 2020. Having picked up 17 wickets from 13 matches, he received a maiden call-up to the Indian T20I squad for the Australian tour. But a shoulder injury prevented him from travelling to the land of kangaroos. His replacement, T Natarajan ended up making a mark during the tour and made an appearance for India in all three formats. A few months later, the Tamil Nadu spinner got another call-up for the T20I series at home against England. This time, he didn’t manage to pass the fitness test. IPL 2021 will be a great opportunity for him to make a case for himself and find a berth in the national team ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup at home.
3. Chetan Sakariya
Saurashtra pacer Chetan Sakariya was the talk of the town during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament recently. The left-arm speedster impressed several experts with his accurate line and length. He showcased his knack of picking wickets as well, managing to take 12 scalps in just five games. This performance helped him land a contract with Rajasthan Royals, who bought him for INR 1.2 crores in the 2021 IPL auctions. If the youngster gets an opportunity to play, it would be interesting to see how he performs in the grand stage of IPL.
2. Kyle Jamieson
In early 2020, Kyle Jamieson arrived on the international stage with some top-notch performances for New Zealand. Since his arrival, he has been one of the most talked-about young talents in international cricket. His impressive show also helped him bag a huge IPL contract for the Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. He was bought for INR 15 crores, one of the highest ever bids in the IPL auction. With RCB eyeing their maiden title in the cash-rich league, Jamieson would be tested and it would be interesting to see if he can handle the pressure of playing in the IPL.
1. Jhye Richardson
Jhye Richardson first made a name for himself when he dismissed Virat Kohli thrice in an ODI series in Australia in early 2019. He was about to play the World Cup later that year but missed out on a chance due to injury. Since then, he has been sidelined from the Australian national team. However, he turned around his fortunes during the Big Bash League 2020-21 and emerged as the highest wicket-taker.
This impressive show also helped him bag an IPL contract with Punjab Kings, who bought him for a whopping sum of INR 14 crores. Even though the KL Rahul led side has a fast-bowler like Mohammed Shami in their ranks, a lot will depend on how Richardson fares with the white ball in hand.
