At the start of this Indian Premier League season, we had doubts about the balance of all but two squads – Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians. The rest were either missing a fast starter at the top, a middle-order class with the bat, an international death bowler or renowned spinner.
Indeed, we swerved last year’s champions, Sunrisers Hyderabad, for the latter reason. They didn’t possess a spin bowler who had consistently proved at the top level that he could trouble the best batsmen.
But we were wrong. The emergence of Rashid Khan has been a joy to watch. In three IPL matches, he has taken six wickets which currently puts him at No 2 on the wicket-taker lists behind his Sunrisers team-mate Bhuv Kumar.
Rashid is a leg break googly bowler. This makes him a rare treat indeed. And that gives him an advantage. Few of his opponents will have seen his variations before. He also has youth on his side. At 18 – although he might be a little older than that judging by his mature looks – he has exuberance and fearlessness. And why not? The lad’s from Afghanistan.
Stan James makes him a 10 poke to be top tournament bowler. Consider that Imran Tahir, another spinner, is 6 and he looks value. After all, Tahir will not play the whole tournament, Rashid will.
What goes against him is the fact that spinners do not often top the wicket charts in this tournament. It has happened only once when Pragyan Ojha finished numero uno. But a spinner has made the top three in each of the last five years.
Kumar is the 6 favourite with Paddy Power to repeat his top spot from last year. That also looks a good price. There just doesn’t seem to be much competition for him. Most likely it will come from his own team-mates like Ashish Nehra and Rashid.
In theory that could rob him of wickets so let\’s give a nod to Jasprit Bumrah at 13 with green listed bookmaker Paddy Power. We also have to mention Lasith Malinga, also at Mumbai. He has skill and experience and, importantly, bowls at the death. This is where the winners are made. He is too big at 21 with Betfred.
IPL top bowlers
2016: 23 B Kumar (SRH), 21 Chahal (RCB), 20 Watson (RCB)
2015: 26 DJ Bravo (CSK), 24 Malinga (MI), 23 Chahal (RCB)
2014: 23 M Sharma (CSK), 21 S Narine (KKR), 20 B Kumar (SH).
2013: 32 D Bravo (CSK), 28 J Faulkner (RR), 24 Harbhajan (MI).
2012: 25 M Morkel (DD), 24 S Narine (KKR), 22 L Malinga.
2011: 28 L Malinga (MI), 22 M Patel (MI), 21 S Aravind (RCB).
2010: 21 P Ojha (DC), 17 A Mishra (DD), Harbhajan (MI).
2009: 23 RP Singh (DC), 21 A Kumble (21), 19 A Nehra (DD).
2008: 22 S Tanvir (RR), 19 S Warne (RR), Sreesanth (KP).
2015: 26 DJ Bravo (CSK), 24 Malinga (MI), 23 Chahal (RCB)
2014: 23 M Sharma (CSK), 21 S Narine (KKR), 20 B Kumar (SH).
2013: 32 D Bravo (CSK), 28 J Faulkner (RR), 24 Harbhajan (MI).
2012: 25 M Morkel (DD), 24 S Narine (KKR), 22 L Malinga.
2011: 28 L Malinga (MI), 22 M Patel (MI), 21 S Aravind (RCB).
2010: 21 P Ojha (DC), 17 A Mishra (DD), Harbhajan (MI).
2009: 23 RP Singh (DC), 21 A Kumble (21), 19 A Nehra (DD).
2008: 22 S Tanvir (RR), 19 S Warne (RR), Sreesanth (KP).
Calculators
