10. DHAWAL KULKARNI (GL)
(Pic Source: BCCI/IPL)
Well, here’s a trivia for all you. Who was the bowler to get ViratKohli out for a duck after 51 T20 innings? It’s DhawalSunil Kulkarni from Mumbai.
Playing for Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016, the 27-year old right arm pacer bagged 18 wickets from 14 games at an average of 20.22 and a noble economy rate of 7.42. He was the unsung hero of Gujarat Lions and played a huge part in the team’s march to the playoffs in its debut season. Kulkarni who has the knack of picking up crucial wickets in the first six overs, proved his mettle with the new ball by bagging 4 wickets (second most by any bowler) in the powerplay this time around. In the 1st Qualifier between Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kulkarninearly staged an upset as he wreaked havoc in the RCB camp by scalping their first three wickets with just 25 runs on the board. Eventually RCB got to the target of 159, riding on the back of an astounding AB de Villiers half-century but Kulkarniwas lauded for returning with career best figures of 4-1-14-4. He has been picked in the second string Indian squad for the tour of Zimbabwe in July and hopefully he will use the opportunity to lead the Indian pace attack to good effect.
Stats- Matches 14, Overs 49, Wickets 18, BBM 4/14, Bowl. Avg.- 20.22, Eco.- 7.42.
