Top 5 unsung heroes at this year's IPL

The annual cricketing extraveganza called the Indian Premier League has had its fair share of moments of magic and rags to riches stories over the years and this season is no different.

There has been no shortage of incredibly eye-catching performances this year – Chris Gayle hit 12 sixes in an innings to do the ‘Cristiano Ronaldo style’ celebration, while AB de Villiers showed his famous 360 degree class to register the highest individual score (133*) of this edition. The age-defying performances of Ashish Nehra and Brad Hogg have also taken the center-stage on numerous ocassions, and the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis and David Warner have proved that fielding can also win matches.

But there have been a few players who have been contributing to the team’s cause without earning much plaudits for their show. Let’s have a look at the top 5 such dark knights of this year’s IPL:

5. Nathan Coulter-Nile

Coulter-Nile has been Duminy’s go-to man this season

The Aussie pacer has been a consistent performer in a rather shaky campaign for the Delhi Daredevils. He has taken 15 wickets in the 11 games he has played at an incredible average of 21.40, strike rate of 17.00 and a more than decent economy of 7.55. He also has the 3rd highest dot balls this season with 117 to his credit.

Only Sandeep Sharma and Ashish Nehra (120) have bowled more. While DD have relied majorly on their leg spin duo of Tahir & Amit Mishra for wickets, this man has provided them with crucial breakthroughs both upfront and in the middle overs. His performance of 4/20 against against KXIP is a proof for that.?

4. Moises Henriques

Henriques has provided SRH with a much needed balance

The Portugal born Australian all-rounder started a bit late this season and hence played only 7 games so far. But he has scored 219 runs with an impressive average of 43.8 and a strike rate of 128.82. He is more than handy as a bowler having taken 9 wickets with an astonishing economy rate of 6.57, average of 15.33 and strike rate of 14.00.

While the likes of Boult, Steyn and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have earned plaudits for their bowling, Warner, Dhawan and Morgan have come all guns blazing with the bat. In such a lineup, Henriques has made his own mark and has kept his place at the expense of in-form Kane Williamson and the experienced Ravi Bopara. He bowled a match winning spell of 4-0-16-3 against the Kings XI which was overshadowed by the brilliance of Warner with bat.

3. Sandeep Sharma

Sandeep has also been delivering at the death this season

Finalists of last season, the KXIP have been at the wrong end of the table this season. Their star studded batting lineup boasting of Maxwell, Miller, Bailey etc has collectively failed while the bowling including the Aussie speedstar Johnson has looked clueless at times.

The only silver lining of their dismal campaign has been their opening bowler Sandeep Sharma. The pacer from Punjab has the ability to swing the new ball and has been unplayable at times topping the list of most dot balls (121) and most maidens (4) bowled. He has taken 11 wickets with an excellent economy rate of under 7. The fact that he bowls most of his spells in the powerplay makes these numbers more enviable. Had he got some support from the other end, KXIP might have had different fortunes.

2. Lendl Simmons

Simmons has filled in the void left by Aaron Finch

The injury to Aaron Finch came as a blessing in disguise for the Mubai based outfit who were struggling to set the team combination right. It paved the way for the stylish West Indian opener and he provided the much needed stability at the top.

It allowed Rohit Sharma to bat in the middle order and that is one of the major reasons why MI is still in the hunt for the playoffs. In the 9 matches he has played, he has already piled up 345 runs with 4 fifties at an impressive average of 43.12. He has also taken a few spectacular catches at crucial moments to turn the tides in Mumbai’s favour. But it is hardly a surprise that his vital contributions have gone largley unnoticed with the likes of Pollard, Malinga and Harbhajan taking the center-stage.

1. Virat Kohli

The inclusion of India’s Test skipper and the RCB captain in the “unsung heroes list” may come as a surprise but it has been the story of this year’s IPL. Despite often being criticized for being over-aggressive, the dashing Delhi batsman lets the bat do the talking.

While Gayle, ABD and Starc have provided the highlights on different ocassions, Kohli has been as consistent as he has ever been. Having taken the responsibility of opening the batting, he has racked up 417 runs at an average of 52.12 (only De Villiers averages higher at 62.28) with 3 fifties, without anyone noticing. He has been at the other end as the steadying force when the others keep tonking the ball out of the park. The fact that he has not won a single MoTM award this season shows how unnoticed his efforts have gone.

Honourable mentions: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH), Ambati Rayudu (MI), Chris Morris (RR).

*Stats updated after the match KXIP vs SRH on 11th May, 2015.