The IPL is center stage for all the drama in the T20 circuit. This festival of cricket has seen several players shine on the global stage. It has taken Hardik from the streets of Gujarat to the nightlife of Mumbai. It has picked Pollard from the crowd and made him a Caribbean legend. The IPL has raised the stocks of the unorthodox Jasprit Bumrah! We have seen Siraj with his beard and Rishabh with his different looks, shine at this stage. But many players shined in just one season and in the next season they seemed to disappear: –
Swapnil Asnodkar: –
Swapnil Asnodkar, the pocket-sized dynamo rocked in the first season of the IPL! He was an important trump card in the Rajasthan Royal’s successful campaign. Swapnil was considered by the opposing teams as a cakewalk but he turned out to be the opponents’ worst nightmare. In the 7 IPL games, Asnodkar smoked 244 runs at an average of around 34 and a strike rate of 130+. Alongside, Graeme Smith, he formed a formidable opening pair.
Siddhart Trivedi: –
Similar to Asnodkar, Siddhart too was a crucial member of the 2008 Rajasthan squad. Trivedi, the right-arm medium pacer was tricky to pick. His slower one and his cutters made things very difficult for the batsmen. He has played 76 matches throughout his IPL career and has picked 65 wickets. His purple patch was in the year 2008 and his prowess helped RR win the league. He and Sohail Tanvir was the deadly duo of bowlers in the first IPL season.
Saurabh Tiwary: –
Tiwary, slated to be India’s next sensation Saurabh just couldn’t find his touch after 2010. In this season of the IPL, he was on a dream run. He helped Mumbai Indians finish as runners-up in the 2010 season of the IPL. One can never forget his Dhoni-like hairstyle and Dhoni-like hitting abilities. In that season he scored 419 runs in the 16 games that Mumbai played. He averaged 30 at a strike rate of 140. Saurabh has been in the domestic circuit, but the 2010 season undoubtedly is the best!
Paul Valthaty: –
Paul was a dominant force in the 2011 season of the IPL. The streets will never forget his 120* against the Chennai Super Kings. Valthaty in that season scored 463 runs at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 136. He played alongside the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh but failed to make the most of it. Paul was also a great fielder. Paul now has his own academy in Mumbai and helps youngsters to achieve greatness.
Manpreet Gony: –
Gony unquestionably has to be the biggest one-season wonder. He was again an amazing talent that was harnessed in the very first season of IPL but failed to make the most of opportunities. Manpreet was the pace-bowling all-rounder that India needed after the downfall of Irfan Pathan. In the 2008 season, Manpreet picked 17 wickets of the 16 games for Chennai. He also showed his hard-hitting abilities in these games. Manpreet now plays freelance cricket all over the globe.
