5 Indian players who were picked solely on the basis of IPL performances

The Indian Premier League has been considered by many as the biggest revolution in the history of cricket. It has expanded the sport's market and has enabled even domestic cricketers to earn a healthy living through cricket. IPL has provided a platform for budding cricketers from different countries to display their talent.

It is the undisputed leader when it comes to cricket leagues and is among the top 10 sports leagues in the world both in terms of revenue as well as viewership.

Young cricketers from various countries have got an opportunity in IPL and have performed brilliantly to get into their national side. Some of the Indian players have gone on to become an important part of their national team as well and here are five of them.

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#5 Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal started his career with Mumbai Indians

Chahal played his first match for Mumbai Indians in the 2013 season. He was later picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore and under Kohli, he has had a splendid run since then. 2015 was his breakthrough year where he scalped 23 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 18 and a brilliant strike rate of 12.

Chahal made his Indian debut against Zimbabwe in 2016. He has been a consistent performer in the Indian team and has earned his place despite the presence of other senior spinners.

Chahal has picked up 17 wickets in 11 ODI matches at an average of 25 and has picked up 15 wickets in eight T20Is, with a best figure of 6 for 25. Chahal has become a regular member of the Indian team in the shorter formats of the game and can become a part of the Test squad as well if he keeps performing.

#4 Axar Patel

Axar has the potential to replace Jadeja in the future

The 23-year-old from Gujarat was first signed by Mumbai Indians in the 2013 season but he didn't get to play a single game for them. Later in the 2014 season, he got picked by Kings XI Punjab and had a brilliant first season, picking up 17 wickets in 17 matches at an average of just 23.

On the back of his IPL performances, he played his first match for the country in the same year against Bangladesh. He has now scalped 44 wickets in 36 matches for India in ODIs at an average of 29 and has picked up 7 wickets in 8 T20I matches at an average of 27.

Over the years he has performed pretty well for his IPL side as well. In 59 matches he has picked up 58 wickets at an average of 26.

#3 KL Rahul

Rahul has been the find of RCB

Rahul played his first season in IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013. He didn't have a great first season, scoring just 20 runs in 5 matches. He performed pretty well in the second season though, with Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 166 runs in 11 matches.

Rahul impressed the selectors by his talent and was soon awarded an Indian test cap in the same year against Australia. He played his first ODI in 2016 against Zimbabwe after having a stupendous 2016 IPL season, where he scored 397 runs in 14 matches at an excellent average of 44.

.Rahul has scored 248 runs in 10 ODIs at an average of 34 and has scored 1342 runs in 19 Tests at an average of 46 and is now is an important part of the Test and ODI teams.

#2 Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah has fulfilled India's search for a death bowler

Bumrah was spotted by the former Indian coach John Wright in one Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match and he was drafted into the Mumbai Indians squad for the 2013 IPL season. In his first season itself, he performed his role of a death bowler exceedingly well.

In the 2014 IPL, he had an economy of less than 8 in the 11 matches that he played. Subsequently, in 2016, he bagged 15 wickets in 2016 and 20 wickets in 2017 after a lacklustre 2015 season.

India, for long, had struggled with death bowling and Dhoni tried out Bumrah in 2016 against Australia and he performed brilliantly in that series to cement his place in the Indian set up.

He has scalped 46 wickets in 25 ODI matches at an average of 22 and has also picked up 36 wickets in 26 T20Is at an average of 18.

Bumrah is now an essential part of the Indian team in ODIs and T20s and might soon find a place in the Test team as well.

#1 Hardik Pandya

Pandya got the Indian call-up solely based on his IPL performances

Hardik Pandya began with Mumbai Indians in the 2015 season. He turned out to be a useful addition to their star-studded team because of his big-hitting ability at the end. He was used as a finisher who would hit big shots at the end and he did his job brilliantly.

Pandya, on the back of his impressive IPL performances, made his debut for India against Australia in 2016. He has been a huge find for the country and has fit in perfectly in the fast bowling all rounder's slot for India.

He has scored 530 runs at an average of 40 and has picked up 29 wickets in 26 ODI matches. He has also picked up 16 wickets at an average of 26.37 and has scored 100 runs in 20 T20I matches.

Pandya, in the ODI series against the World Champions Australia, scored 222 runs in four innings at an average of 54 and picked up six wickets in five matches. He is in an ominous form and if his recent exploits are anything to go by, he has a great future ahead of him.