The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a platform where cricketing stars shine brightly, capturing the attention of fans and pundits alike.
While marquee players often steal the limelight, there exists a group of unsung heroes whose consistent performances have been pivotal to their teams’ successes.
These players may not always make headlines, but their contributions are invaluable. One such player is Ajinkya Rahane, whose IPL journey exemplifies the impact of underrated talent.
From solid middle-order batsmen who stabilize the innings to bowlers who control the game in the middle overs, these underrated players are the backbone of many successful franchises.
Some have been around for a while, while others are emerging stars, but they all share one thing in common: they consistently provide value and deliver in key moments when the spotlight isn’t shining on them.
This blog delves into the careers of these underrated IPL players, exploring how they have quietly but significantly shaped the fortunes of their teams.
Take Ajinkya Rahane, for instance, a player who has accumulated over 4,400 runs in 172 matches, including two centuries and 30 half-centuries.
Despite these impressive figures, Rahane often doesn’t receive the recognition his consistent performances deserve.
Similar players, with unique skills and invaluable roles, deserve to be celebrated for their contributions to the league, even if their achievements sometimes fly under the radar.
Top Underrated IPL Players
1. Ajinkya Rahane
Role: Top-order Batsman
Key Skills: Technical batting, ability to anchor the innings, adaptability
Ajinkya Rahane is one of the most consistent and underrated players in the IPL. Known for his solid technique and calm demeanor, Rahane has been a key contributor to several franchises over the years, including Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Chennai Super Kings.
His ability to anchor the innings and play vital knocks in pressure situations has made him a reliable middle-order batsman. While his style isn’t as explosive as other IPL stars, Rahane’s knack for playing crucial knocks and stabilizing innings often goes unnoticed.
In IPL 2024, his composed and steady batting was crucial in stabilizing the innings, allowing his team’s big hitters to finish strong. Rahane’s adaptability across batting positions, whether opening or in the middle order, makes him an invaluable asset, though he’s often overshadowed by the more flamboyant performers in the league.
2. Rahul Tripathi
Role: Top-order Batsman
Key Skills: Quick starter, flexibility, aggressive stroke play
Rahul Tripathi Is the Underrated IPL Player, and has become an essential part of the IPL teams he’s been a part of, especially with Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Known for his ability to accelerate the innings, Tripathi has consistently provided a solid foundation at the top of the order.
His ability to bat at different positions—whether as an opener or in the middle order—adds immense flexibility to any side he plays for.
Tripathi often goes under the radar due to the focus on bigger names but has proven to be a reliable and consistent performer. He has a knack for playing crucial knocks under pressure, which makes him an underrated asset in the IPL.
3. Deepak Hooda
Role: All-rounder
Key Skills: Aggressive batting, useful off-spin bowling, utility player
Deepak Hooda has long been one of the most underrated all-rounders in the IPL. While his batting is aggressive and capable of shifting the momentum in tight situations, he also offers valuable off-spin bowling, making him an ideal player to balance the team.
Over the years, Hooda has been a key player for both Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, contributing with crucial runs in the middle order and picking up wickets with the ball when required. His consistency and all-round skills make him a valuable yet often overlooked contributor in the IPL.
4. Shreyas Iyer
Role: Middle-order Batsman and Captain
Key Skills: Stability under pressure, leadership, consistency
Shreyas Iyer, while not always in the headlines, is one of the most reliable middle-order batsmen in IPL history. Having led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Now Leading Punjab Kings to crucial victories, his leadership skills have been just as impressive as his batting.
Iyer’s ability to anchor the innings or accelerate depending on the situation has been a key factor for KKR.
With his excellent technique and calm temperament under pressure, he often steers his team to challenging totals. Despite not being as flashy as some other players, Iyer’s consistency makes him an important cog in KKR’s success.
5. Ravichandran Ashwin
Role: Bowler (off-spin) and Lower-order Batsman
Key Skills: Tactics, variations in spin, clever bowling
Ravichandran Ashwin’s off-spin is a highly valued commodity in the IPL, yet he often remains underappreciated compared to other high-profile spinners. Known for his tactical acumen, Ashwin is one of the smartest bowlers in the league.
His ability to contain runs, pick up wickets at crucial moments, and bowl in the middle overs has been instrumental for teams like Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals.
Ashwin’s skillful variations—such as the carrom ball and slider—make him an essential bowler, especially in pressure situations. His contributions with the bat, though less talked about, have also helped his teams in tight games.
6. Mohammed Shami
Role: Fast Bowler
Key Skills: Swing bowling, death bowling, pace
Mohammed Shami may not be the first name that comes up in IPL discussions, but his impact with the ball has been monumental.
Known for his pace and ability to swing the ball, Shami has consistently provided breakthroughs, especially in the powerplay and death overs.
His role as a wicket-taker for Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans has often gone unnoticed when compared to the likes of Bumrah or Rabada.
Shami’s ability to bowl in all phases of the game, combined with his leadership in the pace attack, makes him a highly valuable yet underrated player in the IPL.
7. Lockie Ferguson
Role: Fast Bowler
Key Skills: Express pace, death bowling, wicket-taking ability
Lockie Ferguson is one of the fastest bowlers in the IPL, but his contributions have often been overshadowed by more prominent figures. Known for his sheer pace and ability to bowl yorkers at the death, Ferguson is a potent force in the final overs of a game.
His ability to bowl accurately under pressure has made him a key figure for teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans.
While his performances might not be as celebrated as some of the other pace bowlers, Ferguson’s effectiveness in taking wickets at crucial stages makes him an underrated asset.
8. Sunil Narine
Role: Bowler (Off-spin) and All-rounder
Key Skills: Variations in spin, economy rate, ability to bowl in key phases
Sunil Narine is one of the most effective and understated bowlers in IPL history. Although his performances might not always grab headlines like the superstars of the league, Narine has been a key performer for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for several years.
Known for his mystery spin and ability to bowl in the powerplay and middle overs, Narine’s economy rate has been a standout feature of his game.
His consistency with the ball in the crucial phases of the game, combined with the occasional ability to contribute with the bat, makes him an invaluable player who has often gone underappreciated despite his game-changing impact.
9. Krunal Pandya
Role: All-rounder (Bowler and Middle-order Batsman)
Key Skills: Left-arm spin, handy lower-order batting, utility player
Krunal Pandya has often played a vital but understated role in Mumbai Indians‘ IPL successes, Now Playing for Royal Challangers Banglores.
His left-arm spin provides crucial control in the middle overs, and his ability to contribute with the bat in the lower order has been key to his team’s balance.
While his more famous brother Hardik often gets the spotlight, Krunal’s contributions with both bat and ball have been crucial in tight situations.
His intelligent bowling and the ability to break partnerships make him a key player who is sometimes undervalued despite his immense utility.
10. Manish Pandey
Role: Top-order Batsman
Key Skills: Consistency, technical batting, anchor role
Manish Pandey’s calm and composed nature at the crease has made him one of the most dependable top-order batsmen in IPL history.
Over the years, he has been a consistent performer for teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
While not as explosive as other top-order batsmen, Pandey’s ability to steady the ship and anchor innings when needed has often provided crucial stability. His steady contributions, though not flashy, make him an underrated and reliable figure in IPL lineups.
11. Shivam Dube
Role: All-rounder (Bowler and Middle-order Batsman)
Key Skills: Aggressive batting, useful medium-pace bowling, adaptability
Shivam Dube is one of the rising stars in IPL cricket. Though his performances are often overshadowed by the bigger names, Dube has the ability to provide both with the bat and ball.
His aggressive batting in the middle order has seen him play several crucial knocks for teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals.
Dube’s ability to clear the boundary when required, combined with his useful medium-pace bowling, makes him a valuable asset to any team. In IPL 2024, he was instrumental in several match-winning performances, and his all-round abilities make him an underrated contributor to the tournament.
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