IPL 2021: Best Uncapped XI Of The Tournament
Updated - 27 Nov 2023, 04:12 PM
The Chennai Super Kings clinched their fourth IPL title, by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2021 final on Friday in Dubai by 27 runs.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Orange Cap winner) and Faf du Plessis were instrumental in their success throughout the season with the latter playing a Man of the Match knock in the final. RCB’s Harshal Patel, who bagged 32 wickets, was named the Player of the Tournament.
Several young uncapped Indian players also stood up to further their team’s cause in the season. These players will be eyeing a call-up to India’s T20I squad in the New Zealand series following the T20 World Cup.
IPL 2021: Best Uncapped XI Of The Tournament
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal had a breakthrough season where the fans got to see a glimpse of his talent and potential; he’s only gonna climb further in the coming years. He 10 innings, the left-hander scored 249 runs, batting at a strike rate of 148.21.
His best knock came against CSK. The 19-year-old hammered the CSK bowlers, including Sam Curran and Josh Hazlewood, during his 19-ball fifty. Jaiswal is one of the players Rajasthan Royals may choose to retain.
Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer emerged out of nowhere and changed KKR’s season on its head in the UAE leg. In 10 innings, the left-hander scored 370 runs, with the help of four half-centuries, including one in the final.
He was a key player in KKR’s turnaround in IPL 2021, and helping the side through to the final. In the final, versus CSK, as well, Iyer put KKR on the path of chasing the target, before the batting collapsed.
His exploits at the top with the bat coupled with handy medium-pace bowling will either force KKR to retain him or will fetch big money at the mega auction for the Indore-born cricketer.
Shubman Gill (C)
Shubman Gill ended amongst the top ten leading run-scorer of the season, having recorded 478 runs. However, those runs came at a strike rate of 118.91 – something which coach Brendon McCullum addressed amid KKR’s losses in the first half of the season.
Gill, 22, is a first-choice opener for India in Tests and has featured in 3 ODIs as well. The youngster is likely to be retained by KKR and is a potential future skipper for the franchise.
KS Bharat (Wk)
KS Bharat sorted out RCB’s number 3 position during the UAE leg, and finished with 191 runs in 7 innings at an average of 38.2. The right-hander starred in the thrilling victory over Delhi Capitals when he launched Avesh Khan for a last-ball six. Bharat took 4 catches and affected one stumping.
Rahul Tripathi
Rahul Tripathi was a significant contributor to KKR’s journey to the final. He was given the role of the middle-overs enforcer – and that he did. Tripathi batted at a strike rate of 140 for his 397 runs; he hit 41 fours in the season, the second highest for KKR after Gill.
It was hit six against DC, when 6 runs were needed off 2 balls, which propelled KKR in the final. While Tripathi is not likely to be retained, his selflessness as a batsman and attacking intent will fetch him handsome money at the mega-auction.
Saurabh Tiwary
It was Saurabh Tiwary who Mumbai Indians turned to when they needed an out of form Ishan Kishan to replace in the UAE leg. He did help them with a crucial 45-run knock versus Punjab Kings to keep alive their campaign. Tiwary also registered a fifty against CSK but was dropped for the last game as MI promoted Kishan to the top.
The 31-year-old has entered into the latter half of his career, having emerged a young star in the 2010 season. He also was selected in 3 ODIs for India, but couldn’t add to that tally.
Mahipal Lomror
21-year-old Mahipal Lomror excited everyone with his captivating 17-ball 43 versus Punjab, where he smoked 2 fours and 4 eye-catching sixes. He played a couple of sedate knocks after that. The Rajasthan-born spin-bowling all-rounder is a player to watch out for in the future.
Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel became only the third Indian player to bag the Man of the Tournament award in the IPL, after Sachin Tendulkar (2010) and Virat Kohli (2016). Harshal Patel ended the season with 32 wickets, which is also the joint highest ever in an IPL season with Dwayne Bravo.
Patel started off the season with a five-wicket haul versus Mumbai and just didn’t stop taking wickets – in only three matches out of the 15 he played, Patel went wicketless – foxing the batters with his variations especially in the death. Patel has also been asked to stay back in the UAE to assist the Indian team’s preparations as a net bowler during the T20 World Cup.
Avesh Khan
For most of the times, Avesh Khan was simply outstanding with the ball – he did manage to keep Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma on the bench – and complemented Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje brilliantly, matching them for pace.
Avesh finished with 24 wickets, the most for the Capitals, at an average of 18.75, much better than Rabada’s 30.40. He would, though, want to forget the last-ball six which he conceded against KS Bharat and the 47 runs he leaked versus CSK in Qualifier 1.
Avesh had played 9 matches from 2017 to 2020; he featured in all 16 matches this season for Delhi – tells about the confidence DC had in the abilities of the 24-year-old speedster. Avesh has also been asked to stay with the Indian team as a net bowler.
Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh was impressive last season, picking up 9 wickets. This year, he doubled his tally, ending the season with 18 scalps in his bag – just one behind Mohammed Shami – and starred with a five-wicket haul versus Rajasthan.
Arshdeep was smart with his slower variations and with the usage of his left-arm angle.
Ravi Bishnoi
The Punjab Kings management had surprisingly left out Ravi Bishnoi at the start of both the legs of the season, despite him showcasing his talents last year when he snapped up 12 wickets in 14 matches.
This season, he picked the same number of wickets, but in 9 matches, proving the Punjab management wrong twice in the season; the leg-spinner bowled a tight economy of 6.38. Bishnoi, 21, is a player who could be retained by Punjab.
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IPL 2021 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
