The five players who deserve more consistent chances and an extended run in the IPL include Glenn Phillips, Nehal Wadhera, Kartik Tyagi, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, and Suyash Sharma. Despite possessing massive potential, world-class skills, or stellar domestic records, these individuals often find themselves benched due to rigid team combinations, overseas player caps, or the tactical constraints of the IPL Impact Player rule.
The following breakdown highlights why these five players deserve a permanent spot in a starting XI:
1. Glenn Phillips (Gujarat Titans) :
Glenn Phillips is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic utility cricketers in the world, yet he has spent the bulk of his IPL career on the bench.Phillips is a true three-dimensional player. He is a destructive middle-order finisher, an incredibly athletic boundary rider, a safe wicketkeeper, and a handy off-spinner. Teams often pick specialized overseas slots ahead of him, leaving his explosive match-winning abilities vastly underutilized.
2. Nehal Wadhera (Punjab Kings):
After showcasing immense talent with the Mumbai Indians, Nehal Wadhera moved to the Punjab Kings but has frequently been rotated or used primarily as a sporadic Impact Player rather than getting a fixed position. Wadhera has an innate ability to counter-attack spin and handle high-pressure collapses. A natural stroke-maker who can anchor an innings or accelerate effortlessly at the death, he thrives when given proper backing in the top five.
3. Kartik Tyagi (Kolkata Knight Riders):
Known for clocking speeds upwards of 145–150 kmph, Kartik Tyagi has been heavily restricted by injuries and tough competition within his franchises, preventing him from getting a continuous stretch of matches. Out-and-out fast bowlers with natural pace and sharp yorkers are rare Indian commodities. When given a consistent run, Tyagi’s raw pace and death-bowling execution can easily make him a frontline strike bowler for any franchise
4. Rajvardhan Hangargekar (Chennai Super Kings):
The player has spent seasons warming the bench for CSK, earning only a handful of games before being cycled back out for seasoned veterans.Hangargekar is a genuine bowling all-rounder who can hit the deck hard with the ball and clear the boundary easily with the bat. In a league that heavily rewards domestic fast-bowling all-rounders, he deserves a defined, multi-match role to develop his game.
5. Suyash Sharma (Royal Challengers Bengaluru):
Leg-spinners are tactical goldmines in T20 cricket, yet Suyash has often faced the brunt of tactical substitutions—frequently getting subbed out right after bowling his overs or missing out entirely based on pitch readings.
Suyash possesses a deceptive, rapid mystery-spin action that makes him incredibly difficult to read right out of the hand. Giving him the freedom to play regular matches without the looming axe of a substitution would allow him to build mid-tournament momentum and freeze the run rate more effectively.
