Anukul Roy

- The Jharkhand allrounder was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2018 U19 World Cup that India won, using his left-arm spin to claim 14 wickets. Later that year, Mumbai Indians picked him up for INR 20 lakh, but in his four-year stint with the franchise till 2021, he got just one official game. But he made an impact as a substitute fielder and ace catcher on occasion, including an extraordinary catch to dismiss Mahipal Lomror in the 2020 season.

- Roy again fetched INR 20 lakh in the IPL 2022 auction as Kolkata Knight Riders came calling, a relationship that has continued right until IPL 2026. However, despite being often spotted in KKR's bowling innings as a gun fielder, most often as a substitute, Roy has not been able to break his way into the XI. In his first four seasons, his highest score was an unbeaten 13 across seven batting innings, while bowling only 26.4 overs.

- Roy could have a bigger role to play in IPL 2026, though, as he comes into the tournament with terrific form. In Jharkhand's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title-winning run in 2025/26, he took teams down with his match-winning cameos from the middle order. He scored 303 runs in 10 innings and had five not-outs. He averaged north of 60 in the SMAT at a strike-rate of more than 160.