Iqbal Abdulla & Rahul Sharma among four exciting finds from IPL4

IPL 4 has brought to light many exciting talents for Indian cricket.

 

By Jamie Alter

 

The IPL has always managed to bring into limelight a few cricketers every season. This season might not have churned out as many young stars as the previous years, but there are a few who have made heads turn. With the league phase of the IPL finally coming to an end, we take a look at four revelations in 2011. (All figures as of the end of May 23, 2011)

 

Rahul Sharma

 

Matches – 16

 

Wickets – 16

 

Average – 17.06

 

Economy – 5.46

 

Strike-rate – 18.7

 

Undoubtedly the bowling success story of IPL 2011, Sharma has stepped up dramatically from last season. Diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, a facial nerve disorder that made his eyes water a lot, Sharma overcame blurry vision to turn in a great performance with Pune Warriors. Though the league’s most expensive franchise stumbled along, Sharma impressed with his accuracy and the bounce he extracted.

 

Sharma, 24, has credited Adam Gilchrist, his captain at Deccan Chargers last season, and current skipper Yuvraj Singh for instilling in him the confidence to perform. Using his 6’4″ height to good effect to keep runs in check – his economy rate of 5.46 is the best in the competition – and he showed immense control for a leg-spinner.

 

His first really impressive performance was against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. With Pune Warriors defending a total of 143, he snared three wickets for just 13 runs, including bowling a maiden, even as his team lost. That performance sparked something in Sharma, because he picked up Man-of-the-Match awards in the next two outings. Against Mumbai Indians, he used a sluggish surface to his advantage and bowled an outstanding spell of 4-0-7-2 out of a total of 160 for seven. Pune Warriors lost, again, but Sharma walked off with the plaudits. Against Kings XI Punjab, he netted two for 17 off his quota, dismissing Adam Gilchrist and Paul Valtathy as his team bowled out the opposition for 119 and won easily.

 

This season Sharma dismissed big stars such as Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Chris Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rahul Dravid and Kumar Sangakkara (twice). His IPL success prompted calls for him to be fast-tracked into the national squad, but the selectors rightly chose not to be swayed by one good season. Sharma’s domestic record is ordinary, and he will need to perform better on that platform to merit a place in the India’s limited-overs side. Bowling four overs in the IPL is a different proposition than ten at the international level, but hopefully Sharma will go back to the grind and hone his talent even more.

 

Sreenath Aravind

 

Matches – 10

 

Wickets – 16

 

Average – 16.87

 

Economy – 7.29

 

Strike-rate – 13.8

 

Before this IPL season, Aravind had played ten first-class matches, 17 List As, and 14 Twenty20 matches on the domestic circuit, most of them for his state side Karnataka. At 27 he wasn’t a spring chicken, but his performances in the past domestic season had made the RCB management pay attention. Aravind got his first chance this season after Dirk Nannes was ruled out with injury, and didn’t start with anything noteworthy. In his first match he went for 26 off three overs, and was dropped for two matches. On return against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Aravind picked up two wickets while conceding 37 runs off three overs. Again, nothing to boast about.

 

Two average matches later, the confidence of getting significant playing time began to show. After Gayle’s century propelled RCB to 205, Aravind took over with the ball. Using his slower cutters to exemplary effect, he grabbed four Kings XI Punjab wickets while conceding just 14 runs off his quota.

 

That match proved a turning point for Aravind, who proceeded to turn in economic spells against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Rajasthan Royals (a Man-of-the-Match performance), Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. His bowling against Rajasthan Royals was especially impressive: Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson had put on 73 when Aravind dismissed both in three deliveries in the 10th over, and he then came back to remove Johan Botha in the 17th over as the Royals slipped away.

 

Aravind has credited Zaheer Khan for helping him focus and cope under pressure. RCB bowling coach Ventakesh Prasad has also spoken of Aravind’s ability. If this lanky left-arm pacer can translate his IPL form into domestic success, he will be of much value to Karnataka.

 

Paul Valthaty

 

Runs – 463

 

Average – 35.61

 

Strike-rate – 136.98

 

Valthaty hogged the headlines while notching up 463 runs at a strike rate of 136.98, a performance that makes him the fourth most prolific run-scorer of the competition.

 

A top-order batsman who occasionally bowls medium-pace, Valthaty shot into the limelight with a blistering century (120 off 63 balls) against CSK. He followed that up with 75 and four wickets to seal another Man-of-the-Match awards, and by now the newspapers and TV channels had lined up him for interviews and there were even murmurs of an India future. But at 27, and not having any first-class experience to speak of, Valtathy played down the hype while choosing to focus on his role as opener for Kings XI Punjab.

 

Valtathy has been around for some time, since the Under-19 World Cup of 2002 in New Zealand with the likes of Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel, but an injury to his eye sustained in a game against Bangladesh halted his development. He struggled to make it at senior level for years, and got just one match for Mumbai, a limited-overs fixture in 2006. Rajasthan Royals signed up Valtathy in 2009, and gave him a couple matches. That led to a spot in Mumbai’s Twenty20 side, and a few good innings led to a contract with Kings XI in 2011.

 

His back-foot play has been good, especially when he cuts and pulls. He rarely looks flustered, and even though his form dipped after a great run in the middle phase, he has kept coming hard at opposing bowlers. His bowling also gives him value as a Twenty20 player.

 

Gilchrist has likened Valtathy’s batting to his own and Tendulkar too has praised him. With such greats lavishing praise on Valtathy, the onus is on him to channel his success further. Just resting on his IPL laurels won’t satisfy Valtathy, the fighter that he is. He has made a name for himself, but tougher challenges lie in wait.

 

Iqbal Abdulla

 

Matches – 14

 

Wickets – 16

 

Average – 17.62

 

Economy – 6.00

 

Strike-rate – 17.6

 

Abdulla is not a newbie, having played for KKR previously as their Under-19 draft – though in obscurity – and finding success this past domestic season. Indeed, being Mumbai’s top wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy with 27 in addition to notching up his maiden century has helped Abdulla express himself this year in the IPL. Given opportunities in every match, the 21-year-old has flourished.

 

In 14 matches, Abdulla has taken the new ball four times. It isn’t an easy task bowling with a hard ball during the Powerplay, but Abdulla has been restrictive while managing to break partnerships.

 

His three for 26 against Deccan Chargers was instrumental in KKR clinching victory, and there was another three-wicket haul against Delhi Daredevils. Two Man-of-the-Match awards came when Abdulla took two for 19 against Kings XI and one for 15 against CSK, using the new ball. Abdulla has cited his experience while opening the attack in Twenty20s for his club side, DY Patil Sports Academy, as key to success in the IPL.

 

Scalping the wickets of Gilchrist, Sangakkara, JP Duminy and David Hussey has surely given him a lot of confidence. Abdulla currently owns the third best economy rate of the season, behind Sharma and KKR team-mate Yusuf Pathan, and has done enough to ensure his place as KKR’s first-choice spinner in 2012.

 

(Jamie Alter is a freelance cricket writer, having worked at ESPNcricinfo and All Sports Magazine. He is the author of two books, The History of World Cup Cricket and Field of Dreams: The Story of the Dr. DY Patil Sports Stadium. His twitter feed is @jamie_alter) 

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