Cricket fans all around the world will be overcome by joy when the most awaited blockbuster cricket tournament- IPL 2021 returns on Friday, where the top players from all around the globe come together to display some of the highest quality of sporting entertainment.
While all the focus in the Indian Premier League is primarily on the batters who are responsible for the big scores, the bowlers are often left unnoticed. Let’s have a look at the top 5 bowlers in IPL 2021 who we think might be able to stop the opponent from raising the score.
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy made his List A debut in 2018 with Tamil Nadu, where he was the leading wicket-taker for his team in 2018-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Following his domestic performances, he was picked in the IPL auctions in 2019.
After not having a desirable start to his IPL career, Varun Chakravarthy was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders for their 2020 campaign after being released by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). For the KKR, he had a breakthrough season where he amassed 17 wickets in just 13 games. The spinner enjoyed his best performance in IPL last season when he took a five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals, which also happened to record his career-best figures of 5/20.
Following his IPL performance, he even received an international call-up. However, due to injury, he couldn’t make his debut. After a breakthrough season in 2020, it will be intriguing to see how Chakravarthy performs with heavy expectations from him.
T. Natarajan
After being picked up by Punjab in 2017, T. Natarajan’s IPL debut wasn’t up to the mark given the fact that he was the highest-paid uncapped player. After receiving the same fate as Varun Chakravarthy’s, he was also released the following season and bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018. Despite being with the former champions for two years, Natarajan was given a chance in the 2020 season, which was followed by his decent performance in the domestic circuit.
In the 16 matches he played for SRH during IPL 2020, he picked up 16 wickets with an economy of 8.02. His startling performance earned him his first stint with the national team where he proved himself yet again, as he took a total of 13 wickets in all the international games he played. With the form he is in right now, along with an addition of little international experience, the 30-year-old will be a pivotal figure for SRH in IPL 2021.
Trent Boult
Trent Boult needs no introduction as he’s already one of the most talked-about bowlers in the IPL. Making his IPL entry in 2015 with Hyderabad, he has ever since been on demand in numerous auctions, and as a result, has swapped a number of teams until finally landing in Mumbai via a trade with Delhi Capitals.
The 31-year-old fell a bit short for the race of purple cap, as he had a terrific run in the last year’s tournament when he took 25 wickets in just 15 matches. The pacer was unplayable in the last season who, with an economy of 7.97, played a decisive role for the MI side to lead all the way to the final prize. He did the damage for MI during powerplay overs.
Apart from his stint with Mumbai Indians, he has been a regular player for New Zealand. He has continued to display his capability of picking up wickets in a consistent manner, just as his recent 4/27 in a match against Bangladesh in the preceding month. This year, he can again be the difference between the teams and his side, as he has been on fire lately. It will be intriguing to see how he goes about the business in powerplay overs on Indian pitches during IPL 2021.
Sam Curran
The young Englishman after his masterful performance against India in test matches during the 2018 series was rewarded with a Rs 7.2 crore deal by Punjab in the 2019 IPL auctions. Despite his phenomenal past records, along with a decent stint where he took 10 wickets over 9 matches, the 22-year-old was released from the Punjab side and Chennai Super Kings picked him up for Rs 5.5 crore.
After representing CSK in the previous year, he actually did manage to somewhat live up to his hype by picking 13 wickets in 14 matches, but his efforts went in vain as the team performed poorly. However, expectations are quite high from the bowling all-rounder after his recent performance in the series against India, where he managed to showcase both batting and bowling equally well. Given his entire international career record, the all-rounder has snatched 62 wickets over 42 matches in all formats, and fans hope that this year might be a game-changer with England potentially on the way to earn another world-class all-rounder to themselves.
Anrich Nortje
Although being in the KKR squad since 2018, the South African pacer made his first IPL appearance last year with the finalists, Delhi Capitals, after he was released from his former team. He joined the Delhi side as a replacement to Chris Woakes and unwittingly turned out to be one of the key players to the Delhi squad.
Making his international debut not so long ago (in 2019), he has ever since had a terrific run. In just the 24 matches he played for his national side in all formats, he has amassed a total of 63 wickets to his name. The South African speedster, who has also delivered the fastest ball in IPL to date (156.22 km/h), also displayed his wicket-taking ability in his maiden IPL season by knocking 22 wickets in just 16 games. Moreover, in the latest two ODIs against Pakistan he featured, he had a decent bowling figure of 4/51 and 3/63. Delhi Capitals will be expecting his previous year’s form to continue, and along with his fellow country mate Rabada, help them win their first-ever IPL title.