Here in this post, today we will look at the 7 Underrated and Unnoticed Performers of IPL 2022. Continue reading.
The glittering and golden IPL trophy bears a message in Sanskrit that highlights the tournament’s motto, ‘Yatra Pratibha Avsara Prapnoti.’ It translates to ‘Where talent meets opportunity.’
The IPL has delivered on its promises. Every edition highlights young people with flair and zeal. However, in the midst of the hype surrounding newcomers and established stars, some of the best performers have slipped under the radar. This season’s IPL 2022 is no exception.
This is an attempt to give these unsung performers the credit they deserve.
Shimron Hetmyer – Rajasthan Royals
Hetmyer has scored 210 runs at a strike rate of 214.28 in the last four overs of a match. On seven occasions, he finished the innings unbeaten. He has the highest batting average in the tournament and has hit 21 home runs.
He began the IPL 2022 with a 13-ball 32-run cameo against SRH and followed it up with a 14-ball 35 against MI. In the fourth match of the IPL season for RR, he hit six maximums and scored an unbeaten fifty at a strike rate of 163.88.
His most memorable performance came during a difficult chase against PBKS. Hetmyer won the game for RR by completely outplaying Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh, scoring 31 runs at a strike rate of 193.75.
Hetmyer has now left the bio-bubble for the birth of his first child, but he will be back in time for the IPL 15 play-offs.
David Miller – Gujarat Titans
David Miller has had his best IPL season yet, forming an unlikely partnership with Rahul Tewatia. The pair began the season with a match-winning 60-run partnership against LSG, coming together when GT was in a bind in a 159-run chase.
Miller played a blistering cameo of 31 runs in 14 balls against RR’s commendable bowling attack after a few quiet games. David Miller played one of the best innings of IPL 15 against CSK, smashing an unbeaten 94 off 51 balls.
Mukesh Choudhary and Maheesh Theekshana had triggered a top-order collapse when the knock came.
Miller and Tewatia combined for an unbeaten partnership of 79 runs in 40 balls with the Titans needing 76 runs in 7 overs. Miller has gone undefeated seven times. During GT’s incredible debut IPL season, the Miller-Tewatia duo scored 319 runs at an average of 45.57 and kept the team out of trouble.
Wanindu Hasaranga – Royal Challengers Bangalore
Wanindu Hasaranga
So far, RCB has had a fantastic IPL season. They are on the verge of making the play-offs, with their lead-spinner Hasaranga vying for the Orange Cap this IPL, trailing Yuzvendra Chahal.
He was named Player of the Match in RCB’s second IPL 15 match, taking four wickets for 20 runs against KKR. Hasaranga took the wickets of Brevis and Pollard with clever googlies at an economy rate of 7.00 runs per over in their fourth match against MI.
He dismissed RR’s top performers, Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer, for only 23 runs in the game. His best performance of 5/18 came against SRH, when he stymied a 193-run chase in the middle overs. In this IPL, he bowled 120 dot balls, giving him a dot ball percentage of 44.44.
Abhishek Sharma – Sunrisers Hyderabad
Despite a poor start in the first two games, SRH stuck with Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order. He repaid their faith in him with a match-winning unbeaten knock of 75 runs off 50 balls against CSK. During the post-match interview, coach Tom Moody recognised Abhishek’s talent.
He followed that up with a 32-ball 42 against GT, which helped SRH chase down 168 with an over to spare. Abhishek performed admirably in the second match of the IPL season against GT.
He hit three maximums in a 65-run knock with a strike rate of 154.76. His effortless batting knocks deserve more attention, especially given his senior opening partner and skipper Kane Williamson’s poor form.
Tilak Varma – Mumbai Indians
Tilak Varma, a 19-year-old IPL debutant, has been MI’s shining knight this season, scoring the team’s most runs. Before the match against CSK, Captain Rohit Sharma aptly summarised Tilak Varma’s talent and performance.
This IPL season, Varma has been MI’s leading run-scorer. In MI’s second game, he scored 61 runs at a strike rate of 184.84 against RR’s effective bowling attack while chasing a steep target.
He then had an unbeaten cameo of 38 runs in 27 balls against KKR. Varma appeared to be on his way to taking MI home against PBKS until an unlucky run-out ended his 36-run stay.
After Mukesh Choudhary wrecked the top-order against CSK, he had to play a different role. In 43 balls, he scored an unbeaten half-century. Tilak is the tournament’s seventh highest run-scorer and looks set to win the Emerging Player of the Year award despite MI’s utterly disappointing IPL season.
Krunal Pandya – Lucknow Super Giants
Krunal Pandya began his stint for Lucknow Super Giants with an economical spell against Gujarat Titans, giving up 17 runs and taking brother Hardik’s wicket. He picked up two wickets at an economy rate of 6.75 runs per over against SunRisers Hyderabad after a poor performance against the Chennai Super Kings.
His highest IPL score of 42 came against RCB in a losing effort. In a match in which he also took the wicket of Glenn Maxwell, he conceded only 29 runs at an economy rate of 7.25 runs per over.
He then had his best bowling figures of 3/19 against the Mumbai Indians. Krunal won the Player of the Match award after taking two wickets and allowing only 11 runs in his four overs against Punjab Kings.
Krunal, who has the tournament’s seventh best economy rate of 6.65 runs per over, has been the pivot of LSG’s bowling attack in the middle overs.
Ravichandran Ashwin – Rajasthan Royals
Ashwin’s economy rate of 7.15 places him 14th in the IPL this season, and he has bowled 101 dot balls. With a dot ball percentage of 42.42, the off-spinner has bowled 11 overs in the powerplay this IPL, picking up three wickets and conceding only 6.18 runs per over.
In four of the Rajasthan Royals’ 12 matches, the Tamil Nadu spinner had an economy rate of less than six runs per over. Yuzvendra Chahal owes his IPL Orange Cap in part to his partner R Ashwin.
The stylish right-hander, who has five test centuries, has also performed admirably with the bat. Whenever RR lost an early wicket, Ashwin batted at No. 3. Despite not scoring many runs (except for a half-century against the Delhi Capitals), he has kept the momentum going.
