The Indian Premier League season 11 has been one of the most exciting editions of the most famous and premier T20 league in the world. Almost every match of the tournament is going into the final over with both teams vying to win the match.
Though batsmen have ruled the roost in the IPL in the previous 10 editions, bowlers have also held their own against the big-hitting batsmen with their guile and speed more often than not. The tournament has seen many young fast bowlers come through the struggle of playing against the best and have gone on to represent India at international level.
This IPL 2018 has also seen a few young pacers bowling with their hearts out and have constantly clocked over 140 kmph, surprisingly the best of the experts in the league. Let’s have a look at five of the best young Indian fast bowlers who have performed wonderfully well in IPL 11.
(All the stats are updated until 3rd May 2018)
DEEPAK CHAHAR (CSK)
Rajasthan pacer Deepak Chahar was picked by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2018 auction for INR 80 lakhs. He became an overnight sensation for picking 8/10 on his Ranji debut against Hyderabad, bundling them out for 21, the lowest Ranji score ever.
Since then, he has struggled with injuries and form but came out stronger than before in the opening matches of IPL 2018. He clocked well over 140 kmph and was one of the trusted weapons of CSK skipper MS Dhoni. A hamstring injury has halted his IPL 11 journey, but he is expected to be fit for the final leg of the tournament and will be shouldering the responsibility of winning the title for CSK.
SHIVAM MAVI (KKR)
Shivam Mavi made the world sit up and take notice of the might of Indian pace bowling at the ICC U19 World Cup, where he along with Kamlesh Nagarkoti regularly bowled over 145 kmph and rattled the opposition batsmen’s stumps.
Kolkata Knight Riders decided to bank on both of these young fast bowlers and bought Mavi for INR 3 crores and Nagarkoti for INR 3.2 crores. Nagarkoti was ruled out of IPL 11 due to injury, and this paved way for Mavi to become a regular in the KKR side. He has been wonderful in the tournament, apart from one game against DD, when he gave away 55 odd runs in 4 overs, including 29 runs in the last over of DD innings, bowled by him.
So far Mavi has impressed with his pace and rhythm so far, though he has picked only 3 wickets in 6 matches.
MOHD SIRAJ (RCB)
Mohammed Siraj was a revelation when he was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2017 for INR 2.6 crores and picked 10 wickets in 6 matches he played. Siraj showed amazing control on the ball and swung the ball at high pace.
His performances for Hyderabad in domestic cricket also helped him making his T20I debut for India, against New Zealand in 2017. He has played 3 T20Is so far with 3 wickets to his name; however, his economy of 12.33 is a matter of concern for experts.
Siraj was then bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 2.6 crores as RCB looked for a revamp of their bowling attack. So far in the tournament, Siraj has picked 4 wickets in 5 matches with an economy of 9.25. Though he has impressed with his pace and ability to bowl yorkers at the death, RCB will expect more from Siraj, as the tournament is progressing towards its final end.
BASIL THAMPI (SRH)
Basil Thampi has not got many chances in this IPL 2018, playing 3 matches and picking up 5 wickets with a best of 2/4. He was picked by SRH for INR 95 lakhs after he impressed one and all in IPL 2017 with his stint for Gujarat Lions.
Thampi was excellent for GL in IPL 10, where he picked 11 wickets in 12 matches with a best of 3/29 and economy of 9.49. His most impressive ability was to bowl yorkers at will both at the start of the innings and at the death. Thampi got a chance to play in the SRH XI due to injury to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and their need for a quick pace bowler to bowl at the death.
Thampi will definitely on the radar of India team selectors as he has a brilliant yorker which will be a handful for the team in upcoming matches.
ANKIT RAJPOOT (KXIP)
Ankit Rajpoot had the IPL audience take notice of him when he dismissed Ricky Ponting in his first over in IPL, playing for CSK in 2013. He was then bought by KKR, for whom he played 9 matches in two IPL editions and picked 7 wickets.
In IPL 2018 auction, KXIP bought Rajpoot for INR 3 crores and Rajpoot has delivered big time for them, picking 7 wickets in 3 matches so far. He also became the first uncapped Indian fast bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul, when he picked 5/17 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Though KXIP lost the match, his performance earned him a Man of the match award.
Rajpoot has the blessing of both pace and bounce when it comes to bowling and his natural aggression makes him an asset to the team.
