IPL a big platform for fringe players

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The star-studded Indian Premier League has always caught the imagination of youngsters aspiring to play for Team India. Besides giving them a chance to ply their trade at the big stage, it also throws up avenues of making their mark in the absence of stars.

Kings XI Punjab’s Mandeep Singh is one player who suddenly finds himself in the spotlight. Though the 20-year-old has featured regularly in the side this season, his 75 against the Deccan Chargers and 56 against the Chennai Super Kings — both as an opener — have made him a force to reckon with.

After being experimented in the middle-order and at no. 3, Mandeep’s lucky break came after the injury of their skipper Adam Gilchrist. The Jalandhar boy’s run has shifted focus to many such players, who had been warming the bench until the star-power made way for them.

A dearth of pacers in the Kings XI has also shot Harmeet Singh and Parvinder Awana into the limelight. Harmeet was the first to make a mark after picking up wickets regularly, while Awana caught up with his team-mate and now has 11 wickets to his name.

Part of the 2009 title-winning Deccan Chargers, Harmeet felt that playing for a winning side may have reflected well on him, but was not enough to launch his career. “The Deccan Chargers already had really good pacers so I could not get a chance. When Gilchrist moved to Kings XI (from DC), I asked him to help me out and he did,” says Harmeet, who has seven wickets this season so far.

“I always wanted to be a part of the Kings XI squad since they never had a lot of pacers. I knew I would get a chance here,” he adds.

Awana’s story is no different, as being picked by the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders did little to get him noticed. “I never got an opportunity to showcase my talent. Here at Kings XI, I have bowled regularly and proven my worth,” Awana says.

With South African Roelef van der Merwe the only known spinner in the Delhi Daredevils unit, budding talents like Shahbaz Nadeem and Pawan Negi have lapped up the chance. The same holds true for the Royal Challengers’ offie K.P. Appanna.