IPL 2022: Predicting 5 Bowlers for Hat-trick this Season
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is often taken as a tournament where the matches can be won by either team depending on who does more noise. Sometimes it's back-to-back sixes while sometimes it's back-to-back wickets, or you could say - A Hat Trick.
Image credit: pia.images.co.uk Dimitri Mascarenhas of Rajasthan Royals Celebrates his 2nd wicketIt is a tournament that tends to put batsman under limelight, but the bowlers too can overshadow them with their death-over bowling, hat-trick wickets. IPL has so far seen 20 hat tricks. Even Indian captain Rohit Sharma has a hat-trick in the IPL against his current team, Mumbai Indians. He used to play for the Deccan Charges in the 2009 season. Indian Premier League seasons 2008, 2009 and 2017 have been years with the most hat-tricks (3) in IPL history. In the recently concluded 2021, Harshal Patel was the only bowler who got the hat trick. The next edition of IPL starting from 26th March, 2022. With a lot of shuffling up among teams due to player auction, the competition would be on a different level of excitement.
Here is a list of the bowlers who can pick up hat-trick this season:
Harshal Patel- Purple cap holder IPL 2021
The only player to claim a hat-trick by dismissing Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Rahul Chahar in a quality display of fast bowling against the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021. The premier death bowler specialist has the potential to become the first pacer to record multiple hat-tricks in the IPL. He became the most wicket-taker of the season to claim the Purple Cap holder title of the league. His current franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore couldn’t retain him in draft, but bought him back in auction for a price of INR 10.25 crore.
Rashid Khan- The Mystery spinner
One of the finest modern-day spinners who scalps wickets for his team whenever needed. Rashid had a stellar debut in IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he bowled a whopping 17 dot balls in 4 overs and debuted with INR 9 crore, but had a reported fall out with Team management. To the benefit of the new franchise, Gujarat Titans who acquired him from mega-auction at 15 crore to get themselves one of the best leg spinners in T20 format.
Axar Patel- The handy all-rounder
From making debut for Kings XI Punjab in 2014 for just INR 75 lakhs to being retained by his current franchise, Delhi Capitals for INR 9 crore itself speaks a lot about the bowler. He had his best bowling figures of IPL in the previous edition. He took 15 wickets in 12 Match at an economy of 6.65 and an average of 20.40 runs. The spinner, though, never had a hat-trick in the league but has a best figure of 3/21 against MI in IPL 2021. He is confident in his bowling, making him a potential contender for a hat-trick this season.
Shardul Thakur - Man with the golden arm
Made debut for Punjab XI Kings in 2015 against Delhi Daredevils and has now been signed by Delhi Capitals for INR 10.75 crore. He played for Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017 and for Chennai Super Kings from 2018 to 2021. He lifted the trophy wearing yellow but had his best IPL figures in a purple kit where he picked three wickets in three consecutive overs. He took 3 wickets twice in the previous edition but failed to make it in the form of a hat-trick. Man with the golden arm must be eyeing for it in this season.
Ravi Bishnoi - The googly bowler
Like most young players, Ravi has also been groomed under the supervision of the current Indian coach Rahul Dravid at NCA. Dravid told the youngster that he reminded him of Kumble and got the opportunity to debut for Punjab Kings in 2020 under Coach Anil Kumble. Bought by franchise for INR 2 crore in 2020, now is part of Lucknow Super Giants for INR 4 crore. He proved his worth in his international debut where he became the 8th Indian to bag Man of the Match on debut. Yet to take a hat-trick, the googly bowler is growing into his best version.