When the sun beats down mercilessly upon India, sweaty nights will get feverish in cricketing venues as the lights get switched on and the Indian Premier League looms into view. And within the cacophony of brand-plugs, excited commentators and thunderous sixes, lies the fine-print of the tournament also illuminating talent.
The domestic season is long over and whether you like Twenty20 or not, the truth is, it is the IPL that gifts players the critical top-of-mind recall value when the selectors sit down to pick cricketers for tours or home-series some time in June. It may be a skewed thing to do — to home in on players based on a T20 bash — but that has been the pattern over the years.
The forthcoming IPL would be no exception and it is time to look at a few Indian players, who might trigger some remembrance, some recognition specifically with selectors, and at a larger level, with the fans. Obviously, unheralded players, who don’t figure in this list, may also spring into the high-table by the time the last ball of the IPL is bowled on May 29.
Sportstar looks at a few Indian players, who might trigger some remembrance, some recognition specifically with selectors and, at a larger level, with the fans.
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA, 14/10/2015: Karnataka player Karun Nair during a practice session on the eve of the Ranji Trophy cricket match against Vidarbha at the NCA Grounds in Bengaluru on October 14, 2015. Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar
MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, 29/03/2016: India's Manish Pandey at the team's practice session at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai March 29, 2016. West Indies will be playing against India in the semifinal of the ICC World Cup Twenty20 cricket championship on March 31, 2016. Photo: Vivek Bendre
India bowler Pawan Negi practices during a training session ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 match against Pakistan in Kolkata, India, Friday, March 18, 2016. India came into the World Twenty20 as the favorite with 10 wins in 11 previous Twenty20 games but crashed to a shock 47-run defeat to New Zealand in the Super 10 stage opener in Nagpur. Pakistan is yet to win against India at any World Cup or World Twenty20. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, 16/11/2015: NATURAL AGRESSION - Mumbai cricketer Shreyas Iyer relaxes at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 16, 2015. Photo: Vivek Bendre
KANPUR, UTTAR PRADESH, 24/01/2016: India 'B' skipper Unmukt Chand during a practice session in Kanpur on January 24, 2016, on the eve of the Deodhar Trophy cricket match against India 'A'. Photo: Sandeep Saxena
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