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But every IPL season shows the same thing. You can't win trophies just by having big names. Teams win because of those players who don't get much attention but shine at the right time.

In IPL 2026, teams spent Rs 215.45 crore on 77 players in the mini-auction. Along with star players, teams have also roped in young and lesser-known talents. Some of these contracted players have not received much attention, but they can become very important.

Among them is a player who started out playing tennis ball cricket and now bowls at 140 kmph, a 7-foot-tall fast bowler from Zimbabwe who performed well in the T20 World Cup, and two young players worth Rs 14.2 crore who could shape the future of Chennai Super Kings.

10. Mangesh Yadav (RCB)

Mangesh Yadav, who was playing tennis ball cricket in Madhya Pradesh a few days ago, is now playing in the IPL for Rs 5.2 crore. He is a left-arm pacer who can bowl at over 140 kmph and has already taken 14 wickets in the MP T20 League.

His pace and slower ball make him dangerous, especially in the death overs. He has very little experience in domestic cricket, but his impact in T20 cricket has rightly caught everyone's attention.

RCB has bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the bowling attack, but Mangesh is a different kind of left-arm option. He can make a quick impact when given the opportunity.

The reason he is underrated is very simple – he came from tennis ball cricket and now bowls at 140+ per hour, so he has nothing to lose.

9. Blessing Muzarabani (KKR)

Mujarabani's height is almost 7 feet, which makes him stand out from the others. However, he also performed well in the 2026 T20 World Cup, finishing in the top 5 with 13 wickets.

He joined KKR as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman. His height helps him get extra bounce, which is difficult for batsmen to handle.

He creates problems with his upright bounce and movement. He adds a unique dimension to KKR's bowling attack, which is built around bowlers like Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarty and Harshit Rana.

One underrated aspect of it is that Zimbabwean players don't get much attention in the IPL, even when they perform well.

8. Prashant Veer (CSK)

Prashant Veer is only 20 years old, but he was bought for Rs 14.2 crore. He is a left-arm spin all-rounder and is being seen as an alternative to Ravindra Jadeja.

In the UP T20 League, he scored 320 runs at a strike rate of 155 and took 8 wickets. In Under-23 cricket, he had 376 runs and 18 wickets.

He can play big shots and can also bowl effective spin. He has also proven his strong fitness by playing multiple matches in a short period of time.

CSK needs someone in Jadeja's role, so he can get a direct opportunity. The reason he is undervalued is because people talk more about his price than his actual skills.

7. Kartik Sharma (CSK)

Kartik Sharma is a 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who was bought for Rs 14.2 crore. He has not played in the IPL yet, but his statistics are quite strong.

He hit 28 sixes in just 12 T20 innings at a strike rate of over 160. He was also among the top six hitters in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

He scored 133 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate of 160 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. CSK can use him as a finisher and as an alternative to MS Dhoni in the future.

One of his underrated aspects is that people only see his price, but he is actually a powerful power hitter.

6. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR)

Suryavanshi is only 14 years old, but she has already made headlines. She scored 101 runs off 38 balls in IPL 2025.

He helped India win the final of the Under-19 World Cup 2026 by scoring 175 runs off 80 balls. Since then, he has been training under Kumar Sangakkara.

He is expected to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal. His strength is to bat aggressively from the start. Consistency is his only concern after his debut.

One underrated aspect of him is that despite his great performances, people still see him as a "potential" player due to his age.

Check out more cricket news and latest match updates here.

5. Naman Dhir (MI)

Naman Dhir is slowly making his mark as one of the underrated players of IPL 2026. Although he is not in the limelight among the big stars, his performance often plays a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the match.

Naman Dhir primarily plays for Mumbai Indians and his role as a finisher is very important. In the IPL, he doesn't get to play much as his batting position is usually lower, but his ability to score runs quickly in a short period of time makes him stand out.

His batting style is aggressive and he has the ability to play according to the situation. He can play big shots in the last few overs of the match and help the team to increase the runs quickly. At times, he has turned the tide of the match even in short innings, which is a very important quality for a finisher.

Besides, Naman Dhir is also known as a good fielder. His energy and agile fielding on the field give the team an extra advantage.

In short, Naman Dhir is the kind of cricketer who may not be big in terms of statistics, but his contribution to the team's victory is huge. That's why he is considered one of the "unsung heroes" or underrated players of the IPL.

4. Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR)

Angkrish Raghuvanshi is a new generation cricketer of IPL 2026 who has quickly caught everyone's attention with his talent, but has not yet fully come to the center of discussion - which is why he is considered one of the most underrated players in the IPL.

Angreesh Raghuvanshi primarily plays for Kolkata Knight Riders and plays a key role as a middle-order batsman. Despite his youth, he has shown remarkable maturity under pressure. When the team's top order fails, he takes responsibility and builds the innings.

His batting style is very modern and aggressive, but at the same time he has the ability to understand the situation and play. He is comfortable against both spin and pace bowling. His role is very important in scoring runs, especially in the middle overs, which often keeps the scoreboard moving.

Ankrish's biggest strength is his consistency and confidence. Although he rarely plays big innings, he regularly plays effective innings of 30-50 runs, strengthening the foundation of the team. He also brings additional benefits to the team by occasionally acting as a wicketkeeper.

In short, Angkrish Raghuvanshi is a cricketer who may not be in the news in terms of statistics, but his contribution to the team's success is very important. He can become one of the big stars of the IPL in the future.

3. Mayank Markande (MI)

Mayank Markande is a leg-spinner in IPL 2026 who initially caught everyone's attention with his talent, but has faded somewhat over time—which is why he is called one of the most underrated players in IPL.

Mayank Markande first came into the limelight after making his debut for Mumbai Indians. In his first few matches, he bowled brilliantly, dismissing big batsmen, which quickly made him a household name. As a young leg-spinner, his variations, googlies and bowling control were outstanding.

However, it is not always easy to maintain a place in the starting XI in the IPL, especially when there are many star players in the team. Due to this, Markande did not get the chance to play regularly, which affected the consistency of his performances. However, whenever he got the chance, he did the job of keeping the runs and taking wickets in the crucial overs.

Markande's biggest strength is keeping the batsmen under pressure in the middle overs. He doesn't allow runs to be scored quickly and is often able to break partnerships.

In short, Mayank Markande is a bowler who may not always be in the news, but plays a very important role for the team. If given the right opportunity, he can once again make a big impact in the IPL.

2. Tilak Varma (MI)

Tilak Varma is a young batsman in IPL 2026 who, despite his consistent performances, often does not get the attention he deserves—which is why he is considered one of the most underrated players in the IPL.

Tilak Verma, who primarily bats in the middle order for Mumbai Indians, showed his talent at a very young age. Ever since he got his first chance in the IPL, his confident batting and ability to understand the match situation have impressed everyone.

His batting style is very mature and controlled. He can not only play big shots but also has the ability to build an innings. Many times when the top order is out quickly, Tilak Verma takes charge and manages the innings and takes the team to a respectable score.

Tilak's greatest strength is his ability to remain calm under pressure. He can change the pace of his game according to the match situation, which is very important for a good middle-order batsman. He is also comfortable against both spin and pace bowling.

In short, Tilak Varma is a cricketer who consistently makes significant contributions to the team, even outside of big innings or highlights. That's why he is one of the "unsung heroes" of the IPL and has the potential to become an even bigger star in the future.

1. Rinku Singh (KKR)

Rinku Singh is an IPL batsman who has won many matches with his extraordinary finishing skills, yet he often doesn't get the recognition he deserves—which is why he is considered one of the most underrated players in the IPL.

Rinku Singh mainly plays the role of middle order and finisher for the Kolkata Knight Riders team. His career did not start very easily, but gradually he has established himself. His batting ability, especially in the last overs, has given him a different identity.

He is best known for playing big shots in the final moments of the match. He has batted coolly in many difficult situations and led his team to victory. His strike rotation and ability to play big shots have made him a complete finisher.

Rinku's biggest strength is her mental toughness. She doesn't shy away from pressure and keeps fighting till the end. She is also quite good at fielding, which gives her an extra advantage for the team.

In short, Rinku Singh is a cricketer who, even behind the scenes, makes a significant contribution to winning matches. His consistent performances have established him as one of the "unsung heroes" of the IPL.

Source :- ESPNcricinfo

FAQs

Who is playing in the first match of IPL 2026?

IPL 2026 begins on March 28, where Royal Challengers Bangalore will face Sunrisers Hyderabad.

How much money was spent in the IPL 2026 mini-auction?

Teams spent Rs 215.45 crore on 77 players in the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

Who is KKR's best finisher?

Rinku Singh

What does underrated player mean?

Those who play well but are less talked about

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