Hyderabad: Indian Premier League - where talent meets opportunity, this is written on the trophy of one of the most famous T20 league in the world. IPL which started way back in 2008, has given Indian cricket many superstars. R Ashwin, who is India's leading bowler in red-ball cricket, is a product of IPL. India's latest bowling sensation Jasprit Bumrah was also a discovered in the league.
This league has also seen players becoming a star in one season and fall on the ground in the next season. However, they remain the players no one expected to have such a high impact on the game, and their performances generated a lot of excitement.
Let's take a look at the one-season wonders in IPL over the years.
Paul Valthaty (Kings XI Punjab)
Kings XI Punjab had a new batting star in Paul Valthaty, the fluent right-hander had an incredible breakthrough season in 2011. He scored 463 runs in 14 matches at an average of 35.61, including a top score of an unbeaten 120.
He grabbed headlines when he crashed an unbeaten 120 against CSK off just 63 balls, an innings which prompted speculation over his national team future. He was the sixth-highest run-scorer that season but unfortunately, he couldn't keep the momentum going in the next season and fell out of favour, playing only 6 matches in 2012 and 1 in 2013. Unfortunately, he scored only 30 runs in the next season. He is now playing for Air India, his current employers.
Rahul Sharma (Deccan Chargers)
Young spinner was often compared with Ashwin, he grabbed headlines when he picked the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar is his first season in IPL 2011. In 2011 he went on to pick 13 wickets in 14 games at an average of 17.06. He then shifted to Pune Warriors India. He was even called up to the national team, where he played four ODIs and two T20Is. His last appearance at international level came against Sri Lanka in July 2012.
However, his career was cut short after he was detained at a Mumbai party with South African cricketer Wayne Parnell and other celebrities, and he tested positive for narcotics. Sharma has been playing inter-district matches in Punjab and is trying to make a comeback to the Punjab side in Indian domestic cricket. Post 2014, he never featured in the tournament.
Swapnil Asnodkar (Rajasthan Royals)
Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition of Indian Premier League in 2008. One of the key members of the team was Swapnil Asnodkar. The right-hander scored 311 runs in 9 games and was regarded to be the next big thing in Indian cricket. Forming a lethal opening combo with South African captain Graeme Smith with the duo adding 418 runs at 59.71 in the tournament which ultimately helped Shane Warne's team clinch their maiden title.
However, in the next 11 IPL games that he played, he only scored 112 runs and was never to be in the reckoning for the T20 league again. He disappeared from the radar after the 2011 season, not even featuring in Goa domestic squads.
Manvinder Bisla (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Manvinder Bisla, who hails from Goa, will always be remembered for his 89 in the 2012 final against Chennai Super Kings was instrumental in KKR's run-chase as they grabbed their first title that year. Bisla, the Punjab wicketkeeper-batsman, was picked by the Deccan Chargers in 2009. He played in 6 overall but it was only in 2013 when he showed his true potential with 255 runs from 14 matches at an average of 30.42. He was released by the team in 2015 and bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore who benched him for most of the season. As a result, Bisla went unsold in 2016, 2017, and never could make a comeback in the IPL ever again.
Doug Bollinger (Chennai Super Kings)
Doug Bollinger was at that time one of the most promising talents in IPL. Bollinger was picked up by Chennai Super Kings in 2010 when they won their first IPL title. He was in their squad till 2012 and helped the side win two trophies. In his IPL career, of 27 games he picked up 37 wickets at an average of 18.72. Surprisingly, despite having a good record with the ball, he was ignored.
