IPL 2021: 5 Lesser-Known Players To Watch Out For

IPL 2021 will have a lot of new faces who have joined different teams during the IPL 2021 auction. The tournament starts on April 9 with the first game between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The tournament will be held at six venues across the country. 8 teams will play a total of 56 matches during the group stage and the top 4 teams will qualify for playoffs. During the playoffs, 4 matches will decide the ultimate winner of IPL 2021.

During IPL 2021 auction, 57 players were bought by 8 franchisees. Many famous players like Chris Morris, Glenn Maxwell, and Moeen Ali bagged huge contracts with their respective teams.

However, there are also some lesser-known players who were bought during IPL 2021 auction. Here we talk about 5 lesser-known to watch out for in IPL 2021.

IPL 2021: 5 Lesser-Known Players To Watch Out For

Marco Jansen- Mumbai Indians

Marco Jansen is one of the lesser-known players in IPL 2021 as this is his debut IPL tournament. He got picked by Mumbai Indians during IPL 2021 auction for Rs. 20 lakh. Marco Jansen is a left-arm pacer who hails from South Africa. He is the youngest member of Mumbai Indians being 18 years old.

He has good stats in first-class cricket and has also played in South Africa’s T20 domestic tournament Mzansi Super League. If Jansen gets an opportunity to play for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021, it will be interesting to watch the young player bowl.

Chetan Sakariya- Rajasthan Royals

Chetan Sakariya is part of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. The left-arm pacer was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for Rs. 1.2 crore during IPL 2021 auction. He impressed everyone with his spectacular bowling in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He scalped 12 wickets in just 5 matches during the tournament.

In his T20 career, Chetan Sakariya has picked up 28 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 15.10. These stats really describe that he is a talented bowler. In absence of Jofra Archer from Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021, Chetan Sakariya can get an opportunity to bowl and he will an interesting player to watch out for.

Mohammed Azharuddeen- Royal Challengers Bangalore

Mohammad Azharuddin is a wicket-keeper batsman who became part of Royal Challengers Bangalore during IPL 2021 auction. The 26-year-old plays for Kerala at the domestic level. He became the first player from Kerala to hit a century in a T20 match.

During Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021, he smashed 137 runs off just 52 balls in a match against Mumbai. Considering RCB’s line-up in IPL 2021, Mohammed Azharuddeen is highly likely to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021 and it will be interesting to watch the young talent performing in the tournament.

Lukman Meriwala- Delhi Capitals

Lukman Meriwala is a left-arm pacer who plays for Baroda at the domestic level. He was bought by Delhi Capitals during IPL 2021 auction for Rs. 20 lakh. Meriwala has great stats in his T20 and First-Class career. In 44 T20 matches so far, he has scalped 72 wickets. In his First-Class career, Meriwala has played 29 innings and picked up 49 wickets. The 29-year-old is less expected to feature in the playing 11 of Delhi Capitals but if he plays, it will be exciting to watch an uncapped bowler bowl in IPL.

Shahrukh Khan- Punjab Kings

Cricketer Shahrukh Khan bagged the spotlight of Indian cricket fans after Punjab Kings bought him for a whopping Rs. 5.25 score during IPL 2021 auction. The Indian cricketer is playing his debut IPL tournament in IPL 2021. The 25-year-old Shahrukh Khan is a hard-hitting batsman and can also bowl.

Looking at his stats, Shahrukh Khan has played 21 List A matches in which he has scored 341 runs at an average of 42.62. He played an important role for Tamil Nadu in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21. He also impressed with his performance in the previous edition of Tamil Nadu Premier League.