Redemption of the fallen

The IPL is a platform for the young to showcase their talent; it is a stage that is shared by the budding stars of tomorrow and their idols of today. This tournament is also important for players who have already made a name for themselves, but early ends to the careers (or in some cases lack of opportunity) have left them a few steps short of greatness. Their contributions are slowly fading away in the sands of time and they may never get to represent their national sides again. The IPL has given them a well-deserved shot at redemption and a chance to stir feelings of regret in the minds of their respective countries’ selectors and Boards who had previously lost faith in them.

South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs is at the top of the list of players in this category. Not every player gets to boast about the fact that he’s hit six consecutive sixes (let alone in a World Cup game), but Gibbs can. However, as his career was marred with controversies, smoking marijuana, match-fixing and racial insults, Gibbs always found himself in the middle of disputes. This probably led to him being deemed unsuitable for the role as national captain once Pollock resigned after the 2003 World Cup. After struggling with his form in 2010, the selectors decided that Gibbs was a risk not worth taking and excluded him from the squad. This is now the past as cricket’s bad boy is back in the fifth season with the Mumbai Indians. He has already appeared with the Deccan Chargers in the first two editions. His valuable knock of 53 not out in the finals helped the Chargers lift the trophy in 2009. With MI’s powerful batting line-up, the notorious 38-year-old will have to match big hit for big hit with compatriot Richard Levi in order to cement a regular playing spot.

Australian cricket was at its peak in the early and mid-2000′s, and having an invincible team made it overlook some of the country’s finest talents, one of whom was Brad Hodge. The holder of the most runs and most centuries in Australian inter-State and one-day matches, Hodge is known as the “Tendulkar of domestic cricket” down under. Hodge played only six Tests and twenty-five ODIs for his country in which he was fairly successful, but in a middle order containing the quality of Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and Symonds, there was just no place for him. Now at 37, making an international comeback looks highly improbable. The IPL is the place for him to make a mark and earn the recognition that is due to him. Having played for the Knight Riders and Kochi Tuskers, this season Hodge finds himself wearing the Rajasthan Royals’ jersey. Hodge will have to use his experience and perform consistently if the Jaipur underdogs are to get anywhere in this tournament.

Another player to note here would be former West Indian captain Chris Gayle. Last year he had made his way to Bangalore with his national contract terminated after he had had a falling out with the West Indian Board. Gayle made the fourth season of the IPL a nightmare for bowlers, scoring 608 runs in just 12 innings, proving that he was the biggest cricketing asset of the Caribbean. Much to everyone’s surprise, Gayle wasn’t recalled to the national side. The Windies have had a below-par season but are insistent on trying to cope without the big man. Gayle will have to re-demonstrate his class in the IPL (a tournament whose format is tailor-made to his style of play) and send a reminder that he is required to rescue West Indian cricket.

The next case is India’s very own bowling all-rounder Ajit Agarkar. He is mocked by many for being the “Bombay Duck” as he holds a record of seven consecutive zeroes against Australia, but Agarkar has some remarkable records that have been overlooked by selectors. He was, at one point, the fastest cricketer to reach 50 wickets in ODI history. He has scored the fastest 50 (19 balls) in the limited overs game by and Indian and has also scored a century at Lord’s, an achievement that still eludes the likes of Ponting and Tendulkar. His effective “slow yorkers” made him the captain’s first choice for the death overs. A bright future was in store for Agarkar, but a few mediocre performances led to selectors losing faith in the lad. His involvement in the game has been restricted to Ranji Trophy and other domestic games for Mumbai in which he has been absolutely fantastic. Agarkar is no new-comer to the IPL, but is an under-achiever in the tournament and his teams have always finished in the bottom three. Now with the Delhi Daredevils, it could be his last opportunity to shine as well as a chance to mentor Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron who are India’s bowling future.

There are many others who can be mentioned in this group – Mohammed Kaif and Azhar Mahmood are two names that immediately comet to mind. Watching the forgotten unleash the cricketing beast within them would make for absorbing viewing and would certainly light up an already entertaining tournament.