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R.P. Singh: a bowler reborn

Ravi Shastri

The IPL has reached the half way stage and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that it has become one of the biggest sporting properties in the world and in business terms making even the World Cup look like a dwarf. It’s a soap opera for six weeks that’s unmatched.

I will not be surprised if an advertiser hedges 80 per cent or even more of his cricketing budget on the IPL and Indian cricket in India in the future as opposed to other properties. The mileage got out of it is massive and global.

Four young Indians in the party for the Twenty20 World Cup in England, have caught my eye in this IPL. Others have been impressive too but these are comeback kids and hence that much more special.

An obvious name

Rudra Pratap Singh is an obvious name. He languished for the better part of last year, having played his last Test against South Africa in April 2008 and had no role in India’s one-day plans for over six months.

But in this IPL he is a bowler reborn. Gone are his injury worries and the self-doubts.

He is one of the key reasons why Deccan Chargers are on the top of the table. The purple cap is a just reward.

I have particularly enjoyed the manner he feeds batsmen on the off-stump: in between normal deliveries, he slips in one which bounces more than others with width to boot.

Most batsmen, in this format, want to latch on to wide deliveries but this R.P. special is a bait.

Batsmen are tending to top edge such shots with no control on it. Him uprooting Tendulkar’s middle stump will be a sight he will never forget.

No less impressive

Pragyan Ojha has been no less impressive. Consider the joy of Deccan Chargers who have jewels like R.P. and Ojha in their ranks! Ojha is fifth in the bowling table but the best amongst all spinners in this IPL.

It needs a mention: 10 wickets from seven matches and economy rate under 6. This is exceptional.

The left-arm spinner hasn’t been collared by anyone in this competition. Most of his wickets are top-order bats and he has picked them when Chargers have needed it most: be it of Matthew Hayden or Tendulkar. Rohit Sharma is a cricketer reborn in this IPL. The elegant batsman hasn’t had a 50 in his last 16 one-day internationals and got to bat just once in New Zealand.

He now has a hat-trick to boot. And in case you haven’t noticed it: he is also from Deccan Chargers!

Suresh Raina would be my fourth choice though he is not a comeback kid in the strictest of sense. He had batting returns of 124 runs from five ODIs in New Zealand but has set this IPL on fire with his powerful hitting. He had a break during the Tests in New Zealand and this has rejuvenated him.

It’s a race between Hayden and him to be the top scorer of this IPL.

Along with Gautam Gambhir, I would say he has been the biggest young batting gain for Indian cricket in the last one season.

TCM

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