Bowlers always play a crucial role in any form of cricket. IPL has also seen some stunning match-winning performances by seamers and spinners. The IPL tournament for 2022 has already begun. The opening match was played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings where Kolkata Knight Riders emerged as the winner. The beginning of the IPL also creates some fantastic opportunities for IPL betting. Fans who watch the likes of Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah can make some money by betting on them to take wickets.
Last season, bowlers had been responsible for some stunning matches, and this year, too, they are expected to shine. If the batters get off the blocks easily without making many runs, the pressure is on the bowlers. So, we have compiled a list of bowlers that we think batters should watch out for in this IPL season. Let’s take a quick look at them.
Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada from Punjab Kings can make a big impact in this IPL season. He has played in 76 IPL matches previously. He spearheaded the bowling unit for Delhi Daredevils for four seasons and won the Purple Cap in 2020. But this season, he is going to play for Punjab Kings.
He is known for his fast bowling and throws some stunning yorkers. The 26-year-old bowler is expected to bowl some fantastic deliveries. Wankhede Stadium is expected to have some great bounce. So, having Rabada can prove to be dangerous for the opponent team. The pace bowler might try to make up for his underwhelming performance in the previous season and batters should look out for him.
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah is one of the best bowlers of present-day Indian cricket. He has given some excellent performances against all formats and is surely a bowler to watch out for this season. Bumrah is known to be the death overs specialist. If figures are to be believed, he is the best T20 bowler at present. He has been performing consistently since his debut in 2013. In fact, since 2016, he has been a consistent wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians. The bowling speed combined with the movement up-front makes him one of the feared pace bowlers. Fans are expecting him to bowl some deadly innings on Pune and Mumbai pitches as he plays for Mumbai Indians.
Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel is playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore again this season. His stunning performance in the death overs is the reason the franchise decided to spend 10.75 crore rupees to keep the player. Patel has taken 32 wickets in 15 games. In 2021, he was awarded the Purple Cap.
Royal Challengers Bangalore previously didn’t have any expertise in the department of death overs but Patel seems to have mitigated that. He is a right-arm seamer with a large outswinger. To make up for his average pace, he uses different variations and angles. He has played 8 T20s for India and is looking forward to continuing with his stellar performance this season.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal will play for Rajasthan Royals this year. He has proved his valor and shown that is a crucial cog in the wheel. In the last few years, when he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he became their backbone. In IPL, he holds the 9th position in the list of all-time wicket-takers. This shows that he is a skilled player.
He is in good form and is expected to bowl some watch-winning overs, especially on the Wankhede track. With the progress of the tournament, the tracks are going to become slower. So, spinners will be important for every team.
Rashid Khan
He bowled the mainstay for Sunrisers Hyderabad since he started playing in the IPL 2017. But Rashid Khan will now show his expertise for Gujarat Titans, the new entrant in the tournament. The leg-spinner has an economy rate of 6.33 in the history of the IPL tournament. He has taken 93 wickets in 76 matches. Khan has choked the opposition whenever the captain hands him the ball. Often, batters choose not to play the 4 overs he balls. He ranks number five in the T20 format and shows prolific skills. The flippers along with some variations make him a dangerous bowler to watch out for in the IPL 2022 tournament.
Final Thoughts
The first six overs of the innings in the IPL is the most crucial phase of the game for the bowlers. But the teams with these bowlers have a reason to cheer as they are the finest talent, not just in India but across the world. The bowlers are expected to shine and fans are going to wait for some entertainment from them. With two new teams in the picture, it is going to be an exciting season. The bowlers have a lot riding on their shoulders.
