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TALENT SPOTING Many young guns have certainly fired in this year’s Indian Premier League. Here are seven Indian players who have made an impression with their talent. ARUN VENUGOPAL

Rahul Sharma (Pune Warriors)

Matches: 14

Wkts: 16

Avg: 17.06

Eco.Rate: 5.46

For someone who had to use eye-drops after every delivery, confronting batsmen was a lesser ordeal. Diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy just ahead of the IPL last year, the 24-year-old endured pain and faulty vision to take the field. Sharma battled on for Deccan Chargers, thanks largely to Adam Gilchrist’s encouragement.

But it was his stint with Pune Warriors this season that caught everyone’s attention. Sharma is the second most economical bowler in this IPL, only behind Daniel Vettori. The Jalandhar lad is not your conventional leg-spinner: He is tall, quick through the air, and generates awkward bounce, a la Kumble. He sure is one to watch out for.

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Paul Valthaty (Kings XI Punjab)

Matches: 14

Runs: 363

Avg: 35.63

Strike rate: 136.98

Prior to his blinder against the Chennai Super Kings, Valthaty remained an obscure entity on the cricketing radar. The unbeaten 120 made him an instant celebrity with his name registering on numerous searches on the Internet. The Mumbai-based batsman followed up his century with consistent scores and along with Gilchrist and Marsh formed a potent top order for Kings XI. Valthaty also proved to be handy with the ball; his deceptive medium-pacers yielding crucial wickets. Valthaty (27) suffered an eye injury in 2002 that set him back by quite a few years. He has made up for his technical chinks with a gritty approach to batting.

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Ravindra Jadeja (Kochi Tuskers)

Matches: 14

Runs: 283

Avg: 31.44

Wkts: 8

Eco.Rate: 7.26

The time spent in wilderness has certainly had a positive impact on Ravindra Jadeja’s game. His aggressive batting this year for Kochi Tuskers has been a pleasant change. In the bowling department, Jayawardene relied on the 22-year-old to do the holding job.

The Saurashtra cricketer has often come in to bat during the middle overs with a clear mandate of going after the bowling. While the team’s performance was a disappointment, Jadeja could look back with satisfaction on a productive season.

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Ambati Rayudu (Mumbai Indians)

Matches: 14

Runs: 383

Avg: 31.91

Strike Rate: 115.01

Rayudu has been around for so long that it is hard to believe that he is only 25. The diminutive Hyderabadi has been pivotal to Mumbai Indians’ fortunes for the second year in succession. Rayudu, second only to Sachin Tendulkar on the team’s run charts, has notched up four half-centuries this season.

His wicket-keeping has also lent balance to the side. Though scratchy initially, Rayudu has gradually improved his skill-sets behind the stumps. His last ball six off Balaji to seal a thriller against Kolkata has further re-affirmed his credentials as a big match player.

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Sreenath Aravind (Bangalore Royal Challengers)

Matches: 10

Wkts: 16

Avg: 16.87

Eco.Rate: 7.29

Aravind has come a long way from playing second fiddle to Abhimanyu Mithun and Vinay Kumar for Karnataka in the domestic arena to carving out a niche of his own. After an indifferent beginning, Aravind (27) has become the leading wicket-taker for the Royal Challengers this season. Endowed with a workman-like approach to bowling, Aravind’s strengths lie in hitting the deck hard.

His four for 14 against Kings XI Punjab set the tone for some telling performances. Aravind followed that up with impressive displays against Kochi at home and Rajasthan away. Bowling alongside senior pro Zaheer Khan and State-mate Mithun, Aravind is at the heart of a well-oiled pace attack.

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Manoj Tiwary (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Matches: 14

Runs: 355

Avg: 59.16

Strike Rate: 111.63

A large portion of the credit for Kolkata’s success should go to its batting which boasts of a heady mixture of solidity and flair. Manoj Tiwary has managed to marry both these qualities with aplomb. Batting at number four, Tiwary has played the role of an enforcer besides ensuring a smooth shift in momentum.

The 25-year-old has for long been touted as a brilliant prospect for Indian cricket and he certainly did his reputation no harm with some stellar performances in IPL-4. With Kolkata finding a berth in the play-offs, Gambhir would look to Tiwary for some match-winning performances.

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Iqbal Abdulla (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Matches: 14

Wkts: 16

Avg: 17.62

Eco.Rate: 6.00

That Abdulla bowls in the PowerPlay for KKR is ample testimony to his accuracy and mental strength. The 21-year-old is not averse to flighting the ball; a rare commodity among left-arm tweakers of the modern age. Abdulla has also revelled in stifling opposition batsmen with subtle variations in pace and turn. His ability to prise out wickets at critical junctures has made him a vital cog in Kolkata’s scheme of things.

Abdulla, who plays for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, has shown remarkable maturity in adapting to different situations. He is the highest wicket-taker for Kolkata this year.

* Statistics updated till the last league match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 22.

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