Over the years, the Indian T20 League has become a springboard that has propelled emerging domestic talents into international stars. Whether it is India's Rishabh Pant, West Indies’ Sunil Narine or Australia’s Shane Watson, the cash-rich T20 tournament has worked as a talent recognizing platform for many countries.
This edition isn’t expected to be any different with some exciting talents hogging the limelight at the auction last month. Here are three such debutants who are expected to impress one and all at the Indian T20 League 2021.
Kyle Jamieson
For a player to be the second-most expensive player in an auction and the third most expensive player in the history of the tournament, one must exhibit some kind of extraordinary credentials. And New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson has done exactly that. The towering Kiwi all-rounder is adept with the ball in his hand and can produce some fireworks coming lower down the order as well. Though his T20I debut came only in November last year, he has 926 runs and 55 wickets in 42 domestic T20 matches. This explains why Bangalore paid Rs 15 crores for a player with a base price of Rs 75 lakhs.
Shahrukh Khan
There are very few players who have exploded into the big stage at such an opportune time as Shahrukh Khan. The Bollywood superstar's namesake, Shahrukh Khan was all over the news owing to his Syed Mushtaq Ali performances just before the Indian T20 League 2021 auction. And it worked brilliantly for the Tamil Nadu batsman who was eventually bought for a whopping Rs 5.25 crore by Punjab. However, the batsman's talent is undeniable. His ability to make quickfire 40s and 50s in the middle overs is exactly what Punjab lacked last season. With the tournament returning to its familiar Indian conditions, domestic talents like him are expected to shine.
Dawid Malan
It is quite surprising how the top-ranked ICC T20I batsman is yet to play in the Indian T20 League. The English hard hitter has been in the radar of teams for quite some time now with the interest finally seeing fruition in the 2021 auction. Having played 24 T20Is for England so far, Malan has tallied 1003 with an average of 50.15. He has one international century and 10 fifties to his name already and Team Punjab acquiring his services for his base price of Rs. 1.5 crores was quite a steal. Malan has been touring India with England in their ongoing tour and his knock of 68 in the final T20I did garner a lot of attention.
Feature image courtesy: SANKA VIDANAGAMA / AFP
