IPL 2022 was no different with budding players and talented youngsters making headlines and fans sitting and focusing on their potential.
TimesofIndia.com ran a poll asking fans which lesser-known cricketers in various departments they were most impressed by:
The first question was: Which lesser known top order batsman impressed you the most in IPL 2022?
The substitutes were: Abhishek Sharma (SRH), Devald Brevis (MI), Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) and someone else.
Sunrisers Hyderabad left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma, who scored 426 runs at a strike rate of 133.12 with two half-centuries in the tournament, got the most votes – 1375.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (954 votes) and Devald Brevis (872 votes) finished second and third respectively. Someone else’s option got 512 votes.
The second question was: Which lesser known middle order (number 4 and below) batsman was the most influential in IPL 2022?
The choices were: Tilak Verma (MI), Rinku Singho (KKR), Rajat Patidari (RCB), Jitesh Sharma (PBKS), Tim David (MI) and Riyan Parag (RR).
Rajat Patidar, who was included in the team mid-tournament as an injury replacement, and his unbeaten 112 of 54 in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants, propelled his team Royal Challengers Bangalore to Qualifier 2. , was the standout winner here with 1411 votes. ,
Patidar was followed by Tilak Verma of Mumbai Indians who got 1134 votes. Followed by Tim David (481 votes), Rinku Singh (407 votes), Jitesh Sharma (207 votes) and Riyan Parag (78 votes).
The third question was: Which lesser known spinner impressed you the most in IPL 2022?
The substitutes were: Mahesh Thekshana (CSK), Jagdish Suchit (SRH), Kumar Karthikeya Singh (MI), R Sai Kishore (GT), Harpreet Brar (PBKS) and someone else.
Mahesh Thekshana of Sri Lanka got the most votes – 1349, followed by R Sai Kishore (1182 votes), Any other option got the most votes (427 votes), Harpreet Brar (380 votes), Kumar Karthikeya Singh. (204) and Jagdish Suchit (164 votes) are as follows.
The fourth and last question was: Which of the following lesser known fast bowlers had the most impact this season?
The options were: Umran Malik (SRH), Mohsin Khan (LSG), Yash Dayal (GT), Mukesh Chaudhary (CSK), Arshdeep Singh (PBKS), Kuldeep Sen (RR).
There are no prizes for guessing that pacer Umran Malik, who consistently clocked over 150 kmph throughout the tournament, was the runaway winner here. It wasn’t just his tear-shedding speed though. Umran finished fourth in the list of highest wicket takers in the tournament with 22 wickets. Umran, who called-up Team India for the upcoming South Africa series, got 2059 votes.
Umran was followed by Mohsin Khan (1025 votes), Arshdeep Singh (314 votes), Mukesh Chaudhary (190 votes), Yash Dayal (93 votes) and Kuldeep Sen (33 votes).