Welcome to Part 3 of this little series. No fancy intros here. Just a reminder: not all heroes wear orange caps or take hat-tricks in finals. Some just do their job quietly — and do it well enough to shift momentum. That’s exactly what this list is about.
This season, while the big names hogged the limelight, these guys did the heavy lifting when no one was watching. Time to give them their due.
1. Anshul Kamboj: CSK didn’t have the greatest of seasons. Let’s just say the trophy was never really in sight. But amidst all the chaos, Anshul Kamboj showed up. No hype, no drama. Just solid spells.
He kept his economy under 8 — that alone tells you he was holding it down while others were leaking runs. Bowling average? 21. That’s serious value. Alongside Khaleel, he was the only one who gave fans something to cheer for.
This season, Jitesh did a bit of everything for RCB. Cameos in chases. Clean glove work. DRS calls that turned games. But the best bit? The belief. You could see it in how he carried himself.
Dinesh Karthik’s presence clearly helped. But Jitesh made his own name this season — loud and clear.
He had that rare finishing vibe — like, if he’s on strike and you need 70 in 4 overs, it’s still on. He almost pulled off the final, too. Fell short, yes. But only just.
He bowled hard lengths, smart spells, and didn’t let batters breathe. In fact, only Narine was close when it came to consistent length bowling. Quietly effective. Deadly in the middle overs.
After a few hit-or-miss years at SRH, he finally found a team that trusted him at the death. And he paid that faith back. He’s just 23, but this season felt like a proper reboot for him.
You don’t always need to be on the front page to be valuable. In a tournament like the IPL, filled with glamour and pressure, it’s often the less celebrated names who do the quiet hard work, game after game. That’s exactly what these five players did.
They weren’t the most talked-about. They weren’t topping fantasy leagues. But they turned up when it mattered, kept their heads down, and let their performances speak. Whether it was a tight over, a sharp stumping, or a fearless finish, they contributed in ways that changed matches, even if only a few noticed.
And honestly, this is why I love cricket. It’s not just about centuries or viral moments — it’s also about the grit, the comebacks, and the lesser-known stories that make the game richer.
So here’s a small salute to Anshul, Jitesh, Shashank, Digvesh, and Samad — for reminding us that not all impact is visible, and not all legends need to be famous.
If you’ve got someone else in mind who deserves a mention, tell me. Part 4 is on the way, and maybe your pick will be the next name we highlight. Let’s keep appreciating the game — and the players — beyond the headlines.
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