Manan Vohra: Kings XI Punjab
IPL 2013: M: 12, Runs: 161 HS: 43*, SR: 137.60.
Kings XI Punjab surprised many by retaining 20-year-old Punjab batsman. His swashbuckling 187 against Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy in December might have forced the team think tank to keep him because his previous IPL performances weren't noteworthy.
Why isn’t Vohra playing? It's anybody's guess. Having retained Vohra alongside a belligerent David Miller, one would have assumed that he would be an automatic choice in the playing XI before the auction. However, with the likes of Virender Sehwag and Cheteshwar Pujara being drafted into the squad, Vohra's chances diminished.
Vohra might have fancied his chances as a floater at No.4, 5 or 6 but the experience of wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha has worked against him. The rest of the batting line-up has a settled look with Glenn Maxwell leading the way.
Unmukt Chand:
Rajasthan Royals, bought for Rs 65 lakh.
Previous team: Delhi Daredevils.
Performance in the 2013 IPL:
Mat: 9, Runs 158, HS 41, Ave: 17.55 SR: 100.
Unmukt was tipped to be the next Virat Kohli after he led India to the U-19 World Cup title in 2012. Though he was with Delhi since 2011, Unmukt got his first big chance to prove his worth as a Daredevil only in 2013. He failed miserably as an opener and a string of low scores forced him out of the team.
2014 IPL auctions: Rajasthan Royals, a team known for investing on young legs, snapped up Unmukt for Rs 65 lakh as Delhi didn't want to retain him.
How did Unmukt fare in the Ranji Trophy? Below par. In 11 innings, Unmukt could muster only 268 runs with a lone century at an average of 26.80.
Who has grabbed Unmukt's opportunity? Karun Nair. The 22-year-old batsman, who was with RCB in 2013, has hit a purple patch as an opener for Royals. He has scored 126 runs in four matches at an impressive average of 42. Now, Chand needs to wait for his turn.
