Top 10 players who excelled in IPL despite being rejected

IPL is not just a league for big stars—it is a platform where overlooked or rejected players also get a chance to prove themselves. There are many players who were initially dropped, overlooked or not given a chance, but later established themselves as legends by performing brilliantly in the IPL.

In this article, we will learn the stories of 10 players who ruled the IPL despite being "rejected".

10. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj is one of the most promising and hard-working fast bowlers in the IPL, who has become a major name in the league with his consistent improvement. He started his journey in the Indian Premier League with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he could not perform very consistently. Later, his career took a big turn after joining Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The biggest improvement in Siraj's performance is in his line and length. He was a bit erratic at the beginning, but over time he has increased his control over his bowling. His swing bowling, especially in the powerplay, poses a big challenge for the batsmen. He has also been able to use important yorkers and slower balls in the death overs to prevent runs.

One of the highlights of his performance was his consistent wicket-taking in the Powerplay over a season, which established him as the team's main bowler. He is effective with both the new and old balls, which is very important in T20 cricket.

However, his performance has fluctuated at times, especially when he tends to be overly aggressive. Yet his confidence, hard work and desire to improve have always propelled him forward.

Overall, Mohammad Siraj's IPL performance is a "growth story" - where an ordinary bowler gradually transformed into a key player for the team. His continued improvement could lead him to greater success in the future.

9. Rahul Tewatia

Rahul Tewatia is one of the most exciting all-rounders in the IPL, known for his explosive batting and effective leg-spin bowling. His performances in the Indian Premier League have been largely “unexpected”—meaning he can turn a match around when the team is under the most pressure.

The biggest turning point in his career came while playing for Rajasthan Royals, where he hit consecutive sixes in the last over to secure an impossible win in a match. That innings made him an overnight star. He continued his match-winning performances even after joining Gujarat Titans.

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Tewatia's biggest batting strength is his ability to play under pressure. He usually comes in the middle or lower order and can make a big impact even with very few balls. His ability to play shots, especially in the long-on and midwicket regions, makes him a dangerous finisher.

He also plays a supporting role for the team in terms of bowling. Although he is not the main bowler, he can take important wickets in a few overs as needed.

However, there are some irregularities in his performance—he doesn't have the same impact in every match. However, when he is in form, he is capable of winning matches single-handedly.

Overall, Rahul Tewatia's IPL performance has been "impact-based"—meaning he doesn't always play big innings, but his contributions at crucial moments determine the outcome of the match.

8. Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis is one of the most reliable and experienced batsmen in the IPL, known for his consistent performances and calm demeanor. He played for Chennai Super Kings for a long time in the Indian Premier League and later joined Royal Challengers Bangalore and is serving as the captain.

Faf's batting style is very neat and technically strong. He usually bats as an opener or top-order batsman and creates a solid foundation for the team. His biggest strength is consistency—he regularly makes 30-50 runs and contributes significantly to the team. Especially in the Powerplay, he plays smart shots with low risk and scores runs.

Another important aspect of Faf's performance is his "big match experience". He plays responsibly in important matches and can stay calm and make good decisions under pressure. In addition, his fielding is also exceptional, which brings additional advantages to the team.

However, his batting can be slow at times, especially when quick runs are needed, but his experience and consistency have made him one of the most important players in the team.

Overall, Faf du Plessis' IPL performances have been very consistent, stable and team-oriented. He is a player who, even without playing big innings, plays a significant role in the success of the team with his regular performances.

7. Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced wicketkeeper-batsmen in the IPL, having established himself as a reliable finisher over the years playing for various teams. His journey in the Indian Premier League began in its early seasons, and he has played for several teams including Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils), Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The biggest feature of Karthik's performance is his "finishing ability". He usually comes in to bat in the middle or lower order and helps his team increase the score by scoring quick runs towards the end of the innings. His strike rate is very high, especially in the last few overs, which makes him very effective in T20 cricket.

A notable aspect of his career is his brilliant finishing performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2022 season, where he helped the team win multiple matches in the last minute. His shot selection and ability to keep a cool head under pressure set him apart.

However, his performances are not always consistent. In some seasons, he does not perform as expected because he gets less ball. Nevertheless, his contribution at crucial moments is invaluable.

Overall, Dinesh Karthik's IPL performances have been built on experience, finishing skills and understanding of match situations, which has established him as one of the most effective finishers in the IPL.

6. Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson is one of the most talented and aggressive batsmen in the IPL, known for his stylish batting and shot-playing skills. He first showed his talent in the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals, then spent some time with Delhi Capitals and returned to Rajasthan to establish himself as one of the key players and captain of the team.

Samson's batting style is very aggressive and interesting. He usually bats in the top-order and tries to play big shots from the start. His timing and shot selection are so good that he can hit boundaries and sixes with ease. Especially when he is in form, he is capable of changing the course of the match single-handedly.

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A major feature of Samson's performance is his "impact innings". He can score runs quickly and bring momentum to the match. However, one of his major weaknesses is his lack of consistency - he often starts well but fails to turn it into a big innings.

Under his leadership, Rajasthan Royals has emerged as a competitive team. He tries to take the team forward with young players.

Overall, Sanju Samson's IPL performances have been extremely talented, aggressive and entertaining. If he can continue to do so, he could become one of the best batsmen in the IPL in the future.

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5. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav is one of the most creative and aggressive batsmen in the IPL, known for his 360-degree shot-making ability. He started his journey in the Indian Premier League with Kolkata Knight Riders, but he did not get much opportunity there. Later, after joining Mumbai Indians, his career took a big turn and he became one of the key batsmen for the team.

Suryakumar's biggest batting trait is his ability to play innovative shots. He can play shots all around the field, which makes him a very difficult opponent for bowlers. Even batting in the middle order, he can score runs quickly and change the pace of the match.

One of the biggest aspects of his performance is his “impact batting”—that is, he can make a big impact in a short period of time. He can turn the tide of the match by hitting boundaries quickly, especially in the death overs or middle overs. His confidence and aggressive attitude set him apart.

However, his performances are not always consistent. He often plays risky shots and gets out quickly. However, when he is in form, he is very difficult to stop.

Overall, Suryakumar Yadav's IPL performances have been extremely aggressive, creative and match-deciding. He is a player who is capable of completely changing the pace of a match in a very short period of time.

4. K.L. Rahul

KL Rahul is one of the most consistent and technically skilled batsmen in the IPL, known for his consistency and responsible batting. Although he initially played for various teams in the Indian Premier League, his performances for Punjab Kings and currently Lucknow Super Giants are the most talked about.

Rahul usually plays as an opening batsman and plays the main role in building the innings. His batting style is very neat and controlled - he prefers to play long innings with less risk. As a result, his average is very high in the IPL, making him one of the most reliable batsmen.

One notable aspect of his career has been his consistency. He has been one of the team's top run-getters almost every season. He also does wicketkeeping, which makes him an even more valuable player.

However, one major criticism of his batting is that his strike rate is sometimes low, especially when the team wants quick runs. He often starts slowly, which can create pressure in the T20 format. However, he is able to pick up the pace depending on the situation.

Overall, KL Rahul's IPL performance has been very consistent, tactical and team-oriented. He is a batsman who can lead the team to big scores by holding the innings and playing a crucial role in winning matches when needed.

3. David Warner

David Warner is one of the most successful and consistent opening batsmen in the IPL, known for his aggressive batting and match-winning ability. He has established himself as one of the best overseas players in the Indian Premier League with his outstanding performances over a long period.

The biggest strength of Warner's batting performance is his consistent run-scoring. He usually plays as an opener and builds a solid foundation for the team by scoring quick runs in the Powerplay. His strike rate and average are both quite good, which makes him very effective in the T20 format. He was the leading run-scorer in multiple seasons, especially while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and won the "Orange Cap" multiple times.

Another important aspect of Warner's performance is his match-winning ability. He not only scores runs quickly, but also understands the situation and builds an innings. In many matches, he has single-handedly laid the foundation for the team's victory.

However, his performance has been somewhat erratic, especially in recent seasons. His consistency has sometimes waned due to age and form. However, his experience and skill still make him an important player.

Although he currently plays for Delhi Capitals, he remains one of the team's most reliable batsmen.

Overall, David Warner's IPL performances have been extremely strong, consistent and match-deciding, establishing him as one of the greatest openers in IPL history.

2. Shane Watson

Shane Watson is one of the most successful all-rounders in the IPL, having carved out a niche for himself in the league with his batting and bowling. He has performed exceptionally well in the Indian Premier League, primarily for Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.

Watson's greatest batting strength was his power-hitting and his ability to perform in big matches. He could score runs quickly, batting as an opener or top-order, and was capable of changing the pace of a match. His performances, especially in big matches like finals, set him apart—his century in a final for CSK was one of the most memorable innings in IPL.

Watson has also played an important role in bowling. He could bowl medium-fast and take wickets in the powerplay or middle overs, which would bring great advantages to the team. His all-round performance has played a significant role in the team's victory in many matches.

However, his career has seen some fluctuations in form, due to which he has not been able to perform consistently in some seasons. Nevertheless, he has always been important for the team due to his experience and ability to perform in big matches.

Overall, Shane Watson's IPL performances were highly impressive, full of match-winning and all-round skills. He was a player who could decide the outcome of a match with both bat and ball and is considered one of the most memorable all-rounders in IPL history.

1. Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is one of the most explosive and entertaining batsmen in the history of IPL, known as the “Universe Boss”. His performances in the Indian Premier League are so dominant that he has single-handedly changed the outcome of many matches.

Gayle's IPL career started with Kolkata Knight Riders, but he didn't get much opportunity there. Later, his career changed completely after joining Royal Challengers Bangalore. For RCB, he was the highest run-scorer in multiple seasons and won multiple "Orange Caps".

Gayle's biggest strength in batting is his power-hitting. He can hit big sixes with ease and can change the pace of a match with just a few balls. In particular, his innings of 175* is the highest individual score in IPL history, which still stands as a record.

Another important aspect of his performance is his "impact" in the match. When he is in form, it becomes almost impossible for the opposition bowlers to stop him.

However, one of his weaknesses is his lack of consistency. He often gets out quickly because his style of play is very aggressive. Yet his big innings are enough to win matches.

Overall, Chris Gayle's IPL performances have been explosive, record-breaking and audience-pleasing. He is a player who can single-handedly change the course of a match and is considered one of the most legendary batsmen in IPL history.

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Conclusion

The Indian Premier League is a platform where even rejected players can reinvent themselves. Each player on this list has proven that anyone can make history if given the opportunity and belief in themselves.

FAQ

1. Is it possible to succeed after being rejected?

Yes, many players have proven that.

2. Who is the most successful example?

Chris Gayle is one of the best examples.

3. Why do players get rejected?

For form, team combination or tactical reasons.

4. Why do you play better when you join a new team?

Because of confidence and new opportunities.

5. What can be learned from these stories?

Patience and hard work are the keys to success.