Indian Premier League (IPL) is the world’s most popular T20 tournament, In recent seasons, teams have even signed some of the unsold players as net bowlers and backup alternatives in case of injuries to key players.
Working as net bowlers allows unsold players to be immediately available for a franchise as a substitute. Furthermore, the bowlers have the opportunity to bowl against the world’s best batsmen in the nets, which helps them improve their bowling.
Mohit Sharma, a support bowler for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022, is the greatest example. Sharma, a past IPL Purple Cap winner and member of India’s World Cup squad in 2015, worked hard in the nets to enhance his bowling and ultimately got a deal with GT for the IPL 2023 season.
Mohit Sharma is one of the Gujarat Titans’ leading wicket-takers this season. He was a key player in their run to the playoffs, and if he continues in the same manner, he may even return to the international side.
In addition to Mohit Sharma, who was signed by the Gujarat Titans, a few additional net bowlers have been signed by IPL teams. While Mohit worked with GT before joining the main team, here are two more bowlers that assisted the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the nets. They then joined another organisation and became league superstars.
1) Akash Madhwal was a support bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021
Few fans are aware that Akash Madhwal, the Mumbai Indians’ newest star, played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League in 2021. In the nets, he bowled against Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. In an exclusive interview with RCB, Madhwal stated:
“We used to always feel that we will go there and play in the IPL. It is kind of similar. We are living the dream here.”
While Madhwal did not play for RCB in 2021, he did join the Mumbai Indians as a substitute in 2022. In 2023, he established himself as the team’s best Indian pacer. Madhwal bowled a 5/5 session in the Eliminator against LSG and was named Player of the Match.
2) Chetan Sakariya was a net bowler for RCB in 2020
Chetan Sakariya has joined Royal Challengers Bangalore as a backup bowler for the 2020 UAE season. Sakariya worked hard in the nets and then excelled while playing domestic cricket for Saurashtra, earning him a contract with the Rajasthan Royals.
Sakariya made an immediate impact for RR, taking 14 wickets in 14 matches. The left-arm bowler was quickly called up to the national squad, making his ODI and T20I debuts against Sri Lanka. He currently plays for the Delhi Capitals.