Markande, Kaul, Kishan: 9 Uncapped Players That Lit up IPL 2018

Here’s a look at uncapped cricketers who have attracted attention of national selectors with their performances.

Every IPL has players who disappoint us, players who live up to their expectations and those who impress us. But from the last kind is a more niche group of cricketers – the uncapped ones. The names who have never represented their countries at the senior level in international cricket, but have forced eyes to turn with their performances.

And the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League has been no different.

From the initial stages of the league stage, uncapped cricketers including Mayank Markande, Nitish Rana and Ishan Kishan delivered match-winning performances. While in the latter stages, lesser-known names like Harshal Patel and Shreyas Gopal led their respective teams to victory.

In the 56 Man of the Match awards given out during the league stage of IPL 2018, nine were won by uncapped cricketers.

So with the eleventh edition of the league drawing to a close, here’s a look at uncapped cricketers who might have forced selectors to take note after their performances in IPL 2018.

1. Mayank Markande (MI)

Defending champions Mumbai Indians didn’t manage to even make play-offs this year, but one of the good things that came out of their campaign in IPL 2018, was Mayank Markande. The 20-year-old leg spinner from Punjab marked his arrival with a three-wicket haul in the season opener, and eventually picked up 15 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 24.53.

Bagged for his base price of Rs 20 lakh in the auction, Markande’s 4/23 against Sunrisers Hyderabad were his best figures this season.

2. Siddarth Kaul (SRH)

The third-highest wicket-taker with 21 scalps in 17 matches and an economy rate of 8.28, Siddarth Kaul has been one of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s most consistent bowlers in IPL 2018. The most expensive player from Punjab in the league this season, Kaul’s performances have even earned him a second call-up for India’s ODI and T20 series against England in July.

In fact, the 28-year-old is no new name to the cricket scene in India. After a good outing in the IPL last year and a string of consistent domestic performances, he had earned his maiden India call-up for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, but never got a chance to play.

3. Shubman Gill (KKR)

Man of the series in the Under-19 World Cup, Shubman Gill had erred at the start of the season while coming in to bat at No. 6 and 7 spots. But an injury in the team gave him a chance to bat at number four, and Gill made the most of it by scoring a 32-ball half-century.

And in the do-or-die Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals, 18-year-old Gill came in to bat when KKR was tottering at 51/4 and stitched a crucial 55-run stand with captain Karthik.

4. Prithvi Shaw (DD)

Another young cricketer from India’s U-19 WC winning squad whose strokes and shots have earned him praise in IPL 2018, is Prithvi Shaw. After warming the bench at the start, the U-19 captain managed to make the most of Gautam Gambhir leaving the openers’ slot empty. He scored 245 runs in 9 matches that included two half-centuries.

And both, Gill and Shaw have been rewarded for their IPL knocks with a place in the India A squad touring to England in June-July.

5. Ishan Kishan (MI)

Mumbai Indians would be looking to change a lot of things after their dismal performance in IPL 2018. However, one thing that will definitely not be on that list is wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan.

The young top-order batsman has scored 275 runs in 12 innings, including two half-centuries and a highest score of 62.

62/2 after 9 overs, Kishan had rescued Mumbai by scoring a quickfire 21-ball 62, helping them eventually post 210/6.

6. Ankit Rajpoot (KXIP)

Five years since he removed former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in his maiden IPL over, Ankit Rajpoot has once again risen to prominence with his exploits in IPL 2018. The 24-year-old, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, first found a place in KXIP’s playing in their fifth league stage game. He failed to pick up in his first game for Punjab, giving away 32 runs in the 3 overs he bowled.

Against Delhi Daredevils, Rajpoot’s 2/23 helped his team defend their innings total of 143/8. And in the next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 26 April, he picked up a fifer while giving away just 14 runs – the best bowling figures so far this season! He was named Man of the Match in both games.

7. Suryakumar Yadav (MI)

Mumbai Indians’ highest run-getter and the uncapped player with the most runs – Suryakumar Yadav had an outstanding IPL season this year. The Mumbai Indians opener, who finished as the eighth highest run-getter, scored a massive 512 runs in 14 innings, including four half-centuries and a highest score of 72.

In fact, he also toppled Paul Valthaty’s 463 to set the record for most runs in an IPL season by an uncapped Indian player.

8. Jofra Archer (RR)

Jofra Archer was forced to miss Rajasthan Royals’ first few games due to a side strain. But once the Barbadian-born all-rounder was in, there was no stopping him. He picked up 6 wickets in his first two games while giving away just 48 runs in the 8 overs that he bowled.

Jofra Archer was named Man of the Match in his maiden IPL match. 

Returning with brilliant figures of 3/22, he picked up all three wickets in one over.

The 23-year-old – who is still in the process of completing his seven-year qualification to play for England – became the franchise’s go to bowler in death this season.

9. Nitish Rana (KKR)

Though he dwindled towards the end of the season, Nitish Rana has made a pretty good case for himself this IPL season. The Kolkata Knight Riders top-order batsman has scored 304 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 131.03 and average of 23.38.

Rana's 35-ball 59 had helped KKR defeat Delhi Daredevils on 16 April. The part-time off-spinner also turned heads with his two wickets in successive deliveries to get rid of star RCB batsmen AB de Villiers and skipper Virat Kohli. In fact, in the 6.1 overs he bowled this season, Rana managed to pick up four wickets.