Uncapped players have become an integral part of the Indian Premier League. The franchises can often get the services of uncapped players at a relatively cheaper price. If the franchises back these players, they can not only become assets for the team but also for the country. Many uncapped bowlers have made a name for themselves in the IPL.
Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and many others first showcased their talent in the IPL. Then, these uncapped bowlers got a chance to play for the Indian cricket team. Speaking of uncapped bowlers, here’s a look at the top five of them who have earned the most money from the IPL.
(Source: MoneyBall)
5. Basil Thampi – 4.65 crore
Basil Thampi is a right-arm fast bowler from Kerala. He has been a part of the Gujarat Lions and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Thampi won the IPL Emerging Player of the Award in his debut season.
In 2017, the Gujarat Lions had signed him for INR 85 lakh. After Gujarat Lions exited the IPL, the Sunrisers signed him for INR 95 lakh. He has been a member of the Orange Army since the 2018 edition of the league.
4. One of the top uncapped spin bowlers: Murugan Ashwin – 8.3 crore
Murugan Ashwin is one of the top uncapped spinners in India right now. Rising Pune Supergiant had signed him for 4.5 crore in the 2016 edition of the league. After that, Ashwin has been a part of the Delhi Capitals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Punjab Kings.
His current salary is 20 lakh INR. Hence, in his IPL career from 2016 to 2021, Murugan Ashwin has earned a total of 8.3 crore INR from the league.
3. Ankit Rajpoot – 12.1 crore
Ankit Rajpoot started his IPL journey with the Chennai Super Kings. Later, he joined the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Punjab Kings and the Rajasthan Royals. Unfortunately, Rajpoot went unsold in IPL Auction 2021.
Still, Rajpoot holds the record for the fourth-highest uncapped bowler in the history of the IPL. Rajpoot earned 3 crore per season from 2018 to 2020. It will be interesting to see if he could return to the league in 2022.
2. Kamlesh Nagarkoti – 12.8 crore
Kamlesh Nagarkoti has not played much in the IPL due to injury issues. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders have always retained him for the sum of 3.2 crore INR.
Nagarkoti has earned 3.2 crore per year from 2018, which makes his total salary till now 12.8 crore INR. It will be exciting to see how the right-arm fast bowler performs for KKR in the second phase of IPL 2021.
1. The highest-paid among uncapped bowlers in IPL right now – Varun Chakravarthy – 16.4 crore
Varun Chakravarthy is the only current uncapped bowler in IPL to have earned over 15 crore. The mystery spinner received a whopping 8.4 crore from the Punjab Kings in the 2019 edition of the IPL.
After Punjab released him, the Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for 4 crore in IPL Auction 2020. Thus, in his brief IPL career of three seasons, Varun has earned 16.4 crore INR. He recently got a place in the Indian T20I squad. Unfortunately, his fitness issues did not allow him to be available to play for the team.
