Enforcers are a must in every IPL franchise. Only a few teams can afford a pacer who can be used only in the middle overs. The team needs to have other players for the other phases of the game. On that note, here, we take a look at the list of three pacers who could be used only in the middle overs in IPL 2024.
1) Umran Malik
Sunrisers Hyderabad have at least two pacers for every phase of the innings. One pacer can be used for all the phases and that is Pat Cummins.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will bowl at both ends while T Natarajan will be used mainly at the death. Hence, that leaves Umran Malik as a floater and he is likely to be used as an enforcer in the middle overs.
2) Kuldeep Sen
Kuldeep Sen is one of the pacers who could be used only in the middle overs in IPL 2024. The Rajasthan Royals pace attack comprises Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Sen and Sandeep Sharma.
Prasidh, Avesh, Kuldeep and Navdeep are all similar types of bowlers. Hence, Kuldeep could be given a role-clarity to operate only in the middle overs. With two bouncers allowed in an over, someone with Kuldeep’s pace and hit-the-deck capability will be a serious asset. Hence, he is on this list.
3) Nathan Ellis
The signing of Harshal Patel has freed up the pace attack of Punjab Kings. They can now field different tactics based on the opposition and the venue.
Nathan Ellis played a lot in IPL 2023. It won’t be a surprise if he gets used similarly in IPL 2024, as well. If that is the case, he could be an option mainly in the middle overs. Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh will be used at the death and hence, Ellis can bowl only in the middle phase.
