Playing in the IPL playoffs is the dream of every cricketer. The stakes are at the highest and the viewership of the matches is at the next level. A player who performs well in the playoffs is remembered forever. To this date, fans remember Manvinder Bisla, who helped KKR become the champions in IPL 2012.
Teams generally prefer to go in with a tried and tested settled combination of players for the playoffs matches. However, there have also been instances where teams have tried out a debutant in the high-pressure situation of the playoffs. In this listicle now, we will look at the three players you might not know made their IPL debut in the playoffs only.
1. Khaleel Ahmed made IPL debut in the 2018 playoffs
Khaleel Ahmed is among the reserves in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. He has bowled some impressive spells of left-arm pace for the Delhi Capitals this season.
DC did not even qualify for the playoffs this season, but six years ago, Ahmed started his career in the Qualifier 2 match against Kolkata Knight Riders while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He bowled an expensive spell of 0/38 in three overs.
2. Sunny Gupta
Sunny Gupta has had the most unique career in the IPL history. The unknown off-spinner replaced Irfan Pathan in Delhi Daredevils’ playing XI for the Qualifier 2 match against Chennai Super Kings in 2012. Sunny even opened the bowling for Delhi, but he leaked 47 runs in three wicketless overs and never played IPL again.
3. Nayan Doshi
It was a third-place playoff match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Deccan Chargers in the 2010 season. The winner of that game would progress to the Champions League T20, and RCB handed a debut cap to Nayan Doshi. He bowled an impressive spell of 1/17 in that game, dismissing Venugopal Rao and later moved to Rajasthan Royals.
