IPL 2018: 5 unanticipated overseas cricketers who can provide the X-factor

The extravagant tournament, Indian Premier League, sets a platform for unknown overseas cricketers to buy the attention of the Indian crowd and the rival franchises, which helps build their career. Players like Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, David Miller, David Warner, Shaun Marsh and others have earned not only fame but big money for their heroics in the IPL.

Here is a list of five foreign players who are unlooked-for but they can take everyone by surprise in the forthcoming season of the cash-rich tournament.

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#5 Sandeep Lamichhane

Can he replicate what Rashid Khan did?

The Nepali teenager became the first ever cricketer from his country to be a part of the Indian Premier League. Sandeep Lamichhane is well-known for picking up a hat-trick in ICC U19 World Cup against Ireland in 2016, aged only 15.

Coming to the recent IPL statistics, number of wickets taken by the leg-spinners rose drastically against the finger-spinners and will only be a sign of motivation for the 17-year-old, who was picked by Delhi Daredevils for ₹ 20 lacs.

With the undiscovered factor up his sleeves, he can surely astound the IPL fraternity.

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#4 Cameron Delport

He'll be hoping to win the hearts of Indian crowd

Cameron Delport is a South African all-rounder who specializes in T20 cricket. He is a destructive batsman and a medium-pace bowler, with an experience of playing franchise cricket all around the world.

The 28-year-old is a new commodity to the IPL, bagged in by Kolkata Knight Riders for just ₹ 30 lacs. KKR lacks some stability in the middle-order and Delport could be a perfect fit, providing a surprise element as well.

T20 Career Batting:

Inns - 132 Runs - 3224 SR - 138.54 HS - 109*

T20 Career Bowling:

Inns - 68 Wkts - 48 Economy - 7.65 BBI - 4/17

#3 Billy Stanlake

Played only two games for RCB last year

The lanky fast-bowler from Australia, Billy Stanlake generates raw pace, who came to the scene through U-19 Cricket World Cup 2014. Standing at almost 6 ft 8 in tall, he gets the natural ability to produce bounce even on the most lifeless of tracks.

Stanlake was a part of the T20I series between Australia, England and New Zealand, finishing the series with 8 scalps. He conquered the third place in wickets tally after AJ Tye and Kane Richardson.

Sunrisers Hyderabad got him at a bargain price of ₹50 lacs & skipper David Warner would love to use the uncommon factor of Stanlake.

T20 Career Bowling:

Inns - 25 Wkts - 29 Economy - 7.49 BBI - 3/15

#2 Mujeeb Zadran

KXIP bought him for whopping ₹ 4 crores

Another IPL season and another Afghanistan teenager makes it to the Indian headlines. Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the first male cricketer, born in this millennium, to play international cricket. Furthermore, he became the youngest player to take a five-for in ODI, which came against Zimbabwe.

Coming to his bowling style, the 16-year-old is a 5'10'' tall and possesses a blend of variations with a quick action, thereby making it harder for the batsmen to read. He will join the spin duo of skipper Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel in Kings XI Punjab setup.

T20 Career Bowling:

Inns - 9 Wkts - 7 Economy - 6.45 BBI - 2/17

#1 Ben Laughlin

RR grabbed him at his base price of ₹ 50 lacs

The Melbourne-born seam bowler, Ben Laughlin is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the Big Bash League. The 35-year-old T20 veteran is a very skillful bowler and possesses an ingenious change of pace.

Making his IPL debut way back in 2013, he played only two matches for Chennai Super Kings and warmed benches entirely for his second franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Bought by Rajasthan Royals for his BBL heroics, he might surprisingly come to the party in a batting-heavy side.

T20 Career Bowling:

Inns - 112 Wkts - 144 Economy - 7.73 BBI - 4/6/28