YOUNG GUNS WHO HIT THE REFRESH BUTTON IN THIS YEAR’S IPL

There were some concerns about certain Team India players before the Indian Premier League (IPL) began on September 19. But as the IPL draws to a close, these players with their performances seem to have laid these worries to rest — crucially ahead of India’s tour of Australia, comprising three ODIs, three T20 Internationals and four Tests, starting this month.

Here is a look at six players who have hit the refresh button:

JASPRIT BUMRAH

The right-arm pace bowler, who is in all the three Indian squads for Australia tour, had come off an injury late last year and was looking rusty in the few games he played earlier this year. The Covid-19 break didn’t let him get much practice. However, he seems to have got his rhythm, pace, and zing back.

K.L. RAHUL

The right-handed opener had been doing well for India in limited-overs format before the Covid-19 break. But thanks to his fine form and captaincy at IPL, he has made the Test squad, too, and has been picked as Virat Kohli’s deputy in the two limited-overs squads. Rahul led KXIP from the front, top-scoring, and leading the overall IPL run-scorers’ list even though his team failed to qualify for the playoffs.

SHIKHAR DHAWAN

The left-handed batsman, who is in the limited-overs squads for Australia, had gradually got back into the India squad with decent performances following injury at last year’s World Cup. Dhawan is second in the run-getters’ list just behind Rahul and has at least two more games to add to his aggregate. He made history at this year’s IPL by becoming the first batsman to score back-to-back centuries.

MOHAMMED SHAMI

The right-arm fast bowler, who like Bumrah, finds a place in all three squads for the tour of Australia, has had a good IPL. The fast bowler, known for hitting the seam, has leaked a few runs but has been accurate and picked wickets consistently.

YUZVENDRA CHAHAL

The wiry leg-spinner, who is in India’s limited-overs squads and had been off-colour in T20Is before Covid-19, ended as RCB’s top wicket-taker. His strike rate — he took a wicket almost every 16th ball — was impressive too. He picked at least a wicket in every game except two. Cha

SANJU SAMSON

The wicketkeeper-batsman, who replaced Rishabh Pant in India’s T20 squad for the Australia tour, has had to dabble between his two roles, playing either only as a pure batsman or as wicketkeeper-batsman, and he adapted to the role without any reservations. He was the top-scorer for RR despite the team possessing big names like Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Steve Smith.