Cricket is all about evolution, no matter in whatsoever way it comes. All that matters is how are you planning to evolve yourself and adapt to the crucial requirements of the game with every passing day. This hunger of yours is what propels you beyond the ordinary and helps you to glide past the fire of baptism.
Similarly, when IPL started, a few cricketers suffered a good deal to find the right chord to deliver to their fullest potential. Despite signs of initial brilliance, they were fading for the major portion of the league and it seemed that their team surroundings made matters worse.
Such is the story of the four cricketers mentioned below who were supposed to be the best for Kolkata Knight Riders but their mediocre knocks became way too prevalent and the management called it a day with them. Much to the surprise of everyone, as soon as they donned on the jersey of another franchise, they regained their lost confidence and form and the management of Kolkata only wished that they wouldn’t have let them gone.
Chris Gayle
This hard-hitter at the top of the innings can single-handedly impinge the upshot of the game if he gets going. Also known for his cheeky spinning ability with the ball, he adds a lot of value to the side.
Picked up by KKR in the first IPL auction, Gayle was shortly found tottering with the bat. Not able to open his arms to his heart’s content, he could only manage 463 runs from 16 matches which were pretty uncharacteristic from the towering southpaw. However, post-2010, he changed his allegiance to Royal Challengers Bangalore and what happened thereafter was the resurgence of a brutal batsman who dismantled the bowlers part by part.
His numbers improved by leaps and bounds and he was back to his fullest swing as he managed to chronicle 4021 runs from 109 matches, averaging close to 40. Another record of this Caribbean stalwart that rattled all others was the number of sixes that he has smashed in the tournament as of now. Majority of them came after quitting KKR.
Brendon Mc Cullum
As the expectations from the Kiwi wicket-keeping batsman blew through the roof after his 158 in the very opening game of IPL for KKR, he came a cropper in the next rounds and unfortunately his opening IPL was cut short by a major injury.
Despite returning to KKR in the ensuing season, his statistics became more questionable as he failed to be the batsman he was and it seemed that the conditions of IPL cricket weren’t really playing a favourable host to the big hitter.
However, the situation changed completely with the uncoupling of Baz and KKR. As soon he donned on the colours of Chennai Super Kings he was restored to his former glory and once again turned into the living nightmare for the bowlers that he was.
Notching up 405, 436, 354 and 319 runs in the respective years, his outlook towards the game changed completely and he was the one whom the bowlers dreaded to bowl.
He also evolved into one of the finest fielders of the tournament as the teams that he played for, always had the first wicketkeeper in place. With time, we all realised that it wasn’t IPL but simply a bad marriage between Baz and KKR that impacted his game.
Sanju Samson
An unheralded moniker in 2012 who was reduced to the sidelines of a glittering KKR that claimed their maiden crown in the same year, Sanju Samson bade adieu to the outfit in the ensuing year as he was notched up by Rajasthan Royals.
Though in the initial days, Samson wasn’t really a spark in the Blue colours, he shortly rose to prominence with his sharp wicket-keeping skills which was later laced with some brilliant batting towards the end.
As time flew by, Samson evolved into a full-blown wicket-keeping batsman, hammering illustrious bowlers out of the park with consummate ease. His decent stance behind the stumps shortly earned him a call to the national side as well, but a string of pedestal performances shortly saw him being sent back to the basics.
Though he is a hot-contender in current day cricket to replace Dhoni, his IPL heroics manifested after his link to KKR was snapped.
4. Suryakumar Yadav
An extremely talented batsman in the deep middle order failed to make much headway in KKR colours. Though he played several impressive knocks, his position in the batting line up bogged him down by a good deal.
Being a part of Mumbai Indians in the first couple of seasons, Yadav failed to make it to the starting eleven. However, changing allegiance shortly, he found considerable success in the colours of KKR and continued to thrive with his limited cameos.
His exploits failed to hog the limelight due to its limited stature and he was shown the exit after a span of three years. Yadav returned home to his former club, Mumbai Indians and as they asked the young man to open the innings, he started delivering one masterclass after the other.
Scoring a substantial 512 runs from 14 matches, Mumbai established the point that it wasn’t a poor show from Yadav but his natural gameplay is at the higher part of the pecking order.
