IPL teams prepare roaster for net bowlers

There is a boost for junior level bowlers as UAE-bound the Indian Premier League teams are likely to include these youngsters as members of the respective teams as net bowlers for the 13th edition of the league to be held in UAE.

"It will be a blessing in disguise for these 50-odd unheralded cricketers, who are set to travel with the eight teams as exclusive net bowlers," said a member of the Mumbai Cricket Association.

As of now there are three teams who have prepared roasters for these net bowlers.

Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals confirmed that they are preparing a roster of net bowlers.

The list comprises mostly first-class, U-19 and U-23 state level cricketers who will get to bowl to the likes of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant for close to a month.

"If all goes well, we are planning to take around 10 bowlers exclusively to UAE for the practice sessions. They will be accompanying the team and will remain till the tournament starts," said one of the official of the IPL team.

While BCCI has capped the squad strength (players) to 24, the franchises have not been specified contingent volume which will vary from team to team but it could be safely assumed that most of the eight sides will not avail any local net bowlers.

Kolkata Knight Riders also confirmed that they will also have 10 net bowlers in their roster, likely to be handpicked by former Mumbai captain and their academy coach Abhishek Nayar.

"Someone like former India U-19 Aditya Thackeray could gain a lot if RCB decides to take him for net sessions where he can bowl to a Virat Kohli. Aditya is a part of RCB developmental squad," a senior talent scout of a franchise said.

It is expected that there will be a healthy number of spinners in overall net bowlers' list.

"On slow Dubai tracks, it will be important that teams stack up their line-up with more spinners especially for humid conditions. You will see a lot of leftarm spinners and wrist spinners who have played a decent level cricket being included apart from the pacers," the talent scout said.

The convention all these years has been using local bowlers for nets apart from the junior fringe players but the strict bio-security measures for the tournament means that all franchise will have to arrange for quality bowlers during practice sessions.