IPL 2017: 5 unexpected performers in the first two weeks

#4 Nitish Rana

Rana has shown composure and his hard-hitting

After cutting his teeth with the Mumbai Indians in 2016, Rana found that life as a domestic cricketer for Delhi is replete with crippling pitfalls that stuns and stupefies an established professional, let alone a young and emerging player.

He also suffered the ignominy of being dropped from Delhi's team. Thankfully for the timely intervention of his skipper Gautam Gambhir and Mumbai mentor, Sachin Tendulkar – men who have seen it all – and after a chat or two with these illustrious gents, he was able to clear the cobwebs in his head.

The proof of which can be clearly evidenced in his mature and cool approach with the willow for his franchisee lately, burying the gremlins of a dreaded home Ranji season. To say it has indeed coincided with his side's standing as one of the leaders of the pile is to state the obvious, as he has masterfully made up for the patchy return of Rohit Sharma, with aplomb.

Such a tough scenario as encountered by a young Rana may well have engulfed and ambushed a weaker hearted batsman as failures can be remorseless and merciless. But Rana comes across as an individual who belongs to the highest standards, possessed with the likeable arrogance of youth with unimaginable hitting abilities.

He is also a by-product of a modern day India, sure of its self, and a willing learner that he is, he is bound to fill in the soon to be vacated shoes of his Yuvraj and Raina in the foreseeable future. Mumbai have indeed unearthed a quality Indian left-hander, cut out for one-day cricket.