OVER the years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has acquired the tag of being the biggest talent hunt for international teams playing Twenty20 cricket. The league, its format, its duration and quality make it a perfect pot where even newbies can take time and unleash their skills in presence of the top players in the world. Many international cricketers owe it to the IPL where they got their first big break before making a mark with their national team. Many careers were born in the IPL which also saw the end of some careers. This edition is also working on its line of being a melting pot where talented players are marked by selectors and also franchise managements who seek their own pie in the IPL bounty. The finds of this IPL are definitely Will Jacks and Jake Fraser-McGurk. Both the overseas players have taken their time before exploding in the T20 format as this IPL has seen scores over 200 becoming a routine due to such big hitters.

 

Englishman Will Jacks took his time to find form but then he turned Royal Challengers Bangalore campaign around as he struck a fifty and later a sensational hundred. Jacks has made a fine impression in the IPL as seniors like Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis rallied around him, allowing him total freedom. He has peaked just in time for England ahead of the World Twenty20 Championships next month. The IPL experience is set to make him a confident starter for England. The Aussie Fraser-McGurk, too, walked a similar line with Delhi Capitals. With over 300 runs in nine matches at a sensational strike rate of more than 234, the 22-year-old has sounded his arrival in T20 cricket. Under the guidance of Sourav Ganguly at DC, Fraser-McGurk definitely found his mojo to leave a great stamp on the IPL and also on the fans back home Down Under. Though he has not been picked for the WT20, Fraser-McGurk definitely has a bright future ahead as he will be eagerly sought by teams world over for T20 leagues, including the Big Bash.

 

It was also a fine opportunity for some Indian youngsters to put their hands up. Young Abhishek Sharma is one of them who poured his heart and soul while opening the innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Along with partner Travis Head, Abhishek has given SRH some explosive starts that were never seen in the IPL before. The southpaw has hammered runs at a staggering rate of over 200 and blasted over 30 sixes. It shows the intent he had to prove himself and be among the best in the league. The Punjab batsman is yet to find a breakthrough in the senior team but it is just a matter of time when the selectors take him on the bus in T20 cricket. The IPL has also played a pivotal role for some out of form stars. Jos Buttler, who was totally off-colour during the Test series in India, has found his form which is good news for England. Same goes with Marcus Stonis and Travis Head. Both have used the opportunity to draw their inner strength.