The Hidden IPL Stars: Most Underrated Players You Never Knew About

We all know that the IPL is connected with lights, cameras, and on-field action for megastars like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. The biggest players always steal the show, but behind the glitz and glamour there are dozens of players who are often cast in the shadows during the IPL cricket schedule.

Many reliable players give their all to the team and help seal wins and eventually championships, but who are these cricketers who rarely get the spotlight? This blog gives credit to the underrated IPL players you might not know.

What Makes a Player Underrated in the IPL

Before we dive in to who is the most underrated player in IPL, we’ll look at why a player doesn’t get the recognition they deserve.

Not being in the spotlight

In the IPL, the spotlight always shines on the batters hitting the big sixes and the bowlers knocking out the stumps. IPL match predictions almost always focus on the productivity of star players. Many decent cricketers simply do their job and don’t get social media highlights or any interviews from journalists.

Playing support roles

Opening batters or final-over bowlers often get noticed the most, but there are plenty of teammates chipping in good runs in the middle overs. They help prevent boundaries without taking any wickets when bowling, or simply grab a stellar catch in the field.

Overshadowed by international stars

When you’re on a team with major Indian or international star cricketers, you’re not going to get headlines even with a good game. The cricket betting odds and big news stories often seem to concentrate on the great or terrible performances from star players, because that’s what the fans want.

Who is the Most Underrated Player in IPL?

Here’s our list of the most underrated eight players in the IPL.

1.      Pravin Tambe – The 41-year-old debutant

It’s hard to forget Tambe’s IPL debut with the Rajasthan Royals, most notably because it began at the age of 41, when most players have already retired! Tambe was a good leg spin bowler who managed to become the leading wicket-taker for the Royals in the 2014 season with 15 wickets. While Tambe bounced around teams and eventually moved on to different leagues, his energetic spirit and bowling accuracy were a joy to watch.

2.      Paul Valthaty – One-innings wonder with lasting impact

The 2011 IPL season is often remembered for Valthaty’s wondrous 120* from 63 deliveries for the Punjab Kings in a win against CSK. This epic score is still the 17^th highest individual IPL score of all time. Valthaty had a few good games that season and would continue for the club for several more seasons, but his batting performances declined and he faded from the spotlight after 23 matches. Still, that unbeaten 120 is legendary and a firm reason he’s one of the more underrated players in IPL history.

3.      Shreyas Gopal – The middle-over specialist

Arguably one of the best all-rounders in the IPL, Gopal was first picked up by the Mumbai Indians in 2014. Gopal’s season in 2019 was highly notable because of a fantastic Economy Rate of 7.22 and an epic hat-trick during the same year (removing Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Marcus Stoinis). While more useful for his bowling than batting, Gopal has continued to chip in for IPL clubs and last played for CSK in 2025.

4.      Sarfaraz Khan – The unorthodox talent

Khan has had a solid IPL career as a reliable batter, although rarely a spectacular one. In 37 innings, he has scored 585 runs with a high score of 67. At one point, he was the youngest player to play in an IPL match, although that record has since been broken. Khan has jumped around IPL teams and always done his job, but he was most recently called up for the national Indian squad to play against New Zealand. Khan is a dependable middle-order batter and one of most underrated players in the IPL.

5.      Nitish Rana – Consistent yet overlooked

Rana has been around the IPL since 2015, but his breakout season came in 2017 when he played 13 games and scored 333 runs for the Mumbai Indians (who would eventually win the championship that year). Despite the impressive performance, Rana has unfortunately bounced around different IPL teams, although his time with KKR has been great, even being named captain in the 2023 season. His aggressive batting style and useful spin bowling have made him a consistent player who always seems to avoid the spotlight.

6.      T. Natarajan – SRH’s top wicket-taker released

T. Natarajan’s IPL career might have started out slowly, as poor bowling and injuries derailed his time there. However, his left-arm medium bowling finally came to fruition for SRH in the 2020 season, when he picked up 19 wickets in 14 matches. Although released by SRH recently, he was bought for a big total of 10.75 crore for the 2025 season. He remains a hugely reliable bowler and continually an underrated IPL player.

7. Abhinav Manohar – Domestic form, IPL potential

Although he has never really wowed fans with his batting, Manohar always seems to have future potential in the IPL. He has scored 292 runs in 20 innings, with a high score of 43, but nevertheless, he was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 auction and certainly had his moments during the season. He’s young enough to continue his career in the IPL.

8. Manvinder Bisla – The forgotten IPL Final hero

Bisa is no longer playing in the IPL, but many fans love to bring up his stunning 89 runs from 48 deliveries to help KKR secure their first title in 2012. While he continued to play in the IPL for several more seasons, he never reached the same level as 2012 and was somewhat forgotten as the years went by.

Why These Players Never Got Their Due

There are many reasons why some cricketers never go beyond a role player.

Injury setbacks and timing

An injury really upsets their momentum and place on the team, especially when there are so many players fighting for a spot in the IPL.

Team changes and lack of stability

It’s not unusual to switch teams many times in the IPL, but this constant changing can upset a player’s rhythm and certain batters or bowlers can’t get it together.

Selectors’ preferences and competition

Sometimes the IPL auction just doesn’t go your way and a team will pass in preference of another player’s skill. While there are many leagues in the world, the IPL is the elite and only the best survive.

The Most Underrated Player in IPL History: Who's Yours?

We’ve given our selections above, who who are your most loved and underrated players? We listened online to find out who you, the fans, are discussing on platforms like Reddit and X - here we reveal some underrated IPL players who are truly beloved:

Tell us your picks when it comes to this topic. There are plenty of potential candidates for most underrated player in IPL history, and so many stand-out memories over the years!

Don’t forget to bookmark the OCB cricket blog right now, to get more insights, stats and opinion from our cricketing experts.