The Indian Premier League has given many a player an opportunity to showcase their talent and skills. It provides a platform for young talents as well as experienced players to spring back up into action. Many players have used this edition of the Indian Premier League to revive their careers or come under the eyes of the selection committees for international teams. The following are 5 players who have had their reputations enhanced by performing well in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League.
1. Abhishek Sharma (SRH)
The 21-year-old young gun from Punjab has been in the Sunrises Hyderabad setup since 2018 but never really got many chances. With the absence of David Warner, Abhishek Sharma was the go-to opener for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. This season, having played all the 14 games as their opener, Abhishek Sharma rose to the occasion and piled on 426 runs with a healthy average of 30.43 and doing it with an impressive strike rate of 133.12. He also scored two 50s this season. He didn’t make the Sunrisers Hyderabad feel the absence of David Warner as he consistently produced match-winning knocks for his team. Abhishek Sharma ended the tournament as the highest run-getter for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
2. Hardik Pandya (GT)
A lot of questions were asked before this edition of the Indian Premier League regarding Hardik Pandya. Will he be able to bowl? Can he get back to the devastating player he was with the bat? Can he handle the pressure of captaincy with a totally new team and management? Hardik Pandya has shut down all the critics with his splendid performances in IPL 2022. He has had his reputation enhanced as India’s premier all-rounder by producing some match-winning knocks with the bat. Not only this, he contributed well with the ball and stepped up when his team needed him to. Having played 14 games excluding the finals of IPL 2022, he is the leading run-scorer of his team, the Gujrat Titans, scoring 453 runs with a robust average of 45.30. His highest score of 87* came against the Rajasthan Royals which propelled his team to a victory by 37 runs. Hardik was also no slack with the ball, having taken 5 wickets with an economy of 7.73 which helped his team fill the void of the 5th bowler. Overall, he has performed in a very complete manner contributing consistently in all the departments be it bowling, batting, or in the field. This brilliant season for Pandya could give him back a fixed spot in the squad for the 2022 T20 WC which is to be played later this year.
3. Dinesh Karthik (RCB)
Just when everyone thought Dinesh Karthik’s career was over, he sprang back with an array of beautiful Strokeplay in this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League. Playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Karthik was handed the finishing responsibilities to the batting innings and he nailed his role to perfection. Having the best batting strike rate in the tournament of 183.33, Karthik has amassed 330 runs, being the fourth-highest run-getter for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Over this season, he enhanced his reputation as a finisher who could start firing from ball one. added to this, he has been effective behind the stumps having taken 10 catches and affected 10 stumpings. His pyrotechnics have earned him a spot in the T20 squad to play against South Africa after the IPL which will take place in June.
4. Rahul Tripathi (SRH)
This swashbuckling middle-order batsman has delivered when his team, the Sunrisers Hyderabad needed him the most. Anchoring the innings when required and upping the ante were both done by him as and when needed. He scored 413 runs in 14 games, only second to Abhishek Sharma. Tripathi boasted of a better Average of 37.55 and has the best Strike Rate among his teammates striking it at 158.23. Tripathi who was picked by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2022 Mega Auction for a hefty price of 8.5Cr, has justified his price tag with his effective batting and ability to score quick runs.
5. Kuldeep Yadav (DC)
The left-arm wrist-spinner had a dismal run from 2019 to 2020 where he played only 13 matches, having picked only 5 wickets – a record he would want to forget and leave behind him. It was a tough time being Kuldeep Yadav as he went from being a regular member in the playing XI of the Indian Cricket team to not being able to get a game to play in the 2021 edition of the IPL. Knee surgery in 2021 further kept him away from the middle of things. He was picked up by the Delhi Capitals in the 2022 auction for a price of only 2.00 Cr. His reputation was enhanced as a middle over bowler as he was effective in choking the run flow of the opposition and picking crucial wickets in the middle overs when needed. He could potentially be the steal of the season as he picked up 21 wickets at an economy of 8.44 and had 2 four-wicket hauls.
