IPL 2021: 8 top players to pick in T20 World Cup


IPL 2021: 8 top players to pick in T20 World Cup

IPL 2021 players to watch

Cricket is a religion in India goes a common adage. A lesser used adage is one regarding the Indian Premier League. The IPL should undoubtedly be considered India’s biggest mass pilgrimage. This two-month tournament is a beehive of mass attraction. Spectators, viewers, sponsors, broadcasters, reporters, commentators, analysts. Everyone in the cricket world wants a piece of the IPL. Sold originally as the confluence of opportunity and talent, this is also where entertainment and glamour meet sport. It is the Indian rendition of the Super Bowl. A place where as many people come for the game as do those who enjoy the glitter surrounding it.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, one cannot underplay the contribution of the IPL as a feeder to the national team. Over the years, this tournament has provided a platform for multiple cricketers to express themselves. Moreover, the IPL has also been an undeniable source of livelihood for many sporting families. Talk about Ravichandran Ashwin trumping a rampant Chris Gayle in a final; or Paul Valthaty’s evening in blazing glory.

The latest edition of this trailblazing tournament is bound to throw similar stories and establish similar dynamics. And IPL 2021 holds particular significance in the context of what is to come. The T20 World Cup and Indian captain Virat Kohli’s obsession to leave a trophy-laden legacy. The fact that India is hosting the 2021 edition of the world event, makes IPL performances a stronger barometer for selection. To that end, here are 8 players to watch out in IPL 2021 – one from each franchise.

Chennai Super Kings

Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur

Perhaps no team evokes as much emotion in the IPL as CSK. The yellow brigade have the enviable record of reaching the knockouts of every edition they participated in till their forgettable run in 2020. However, with the tournament returning to the familiar locales of the Indian subcontinent, CSK will be keen on casting their previous season aside as an aberration. And a key man to that effort will be Shardul Thakur.

ADVERTISEMENT

The pace bowler has shown himself to be a fighting cricketer in 2021. Thakur is a skilled bowler who can swing the ball at the top. He can also be the canny death bowler with deceptive slower balls. And that innings in Gabba showed he is more than decent with his willow in the lower order. Every successful T20 team needs multi-dimensional players. India, however, are lacking batsmen who can chip in with the ball. Thus, bowlers who can heave the willow are worth their weight in gold.

Thus, IPL 2021 provides Thakur with potentially a career-altering opportunity to seal India’s number 8 position. It will be an added advantage for him to be under the tutelage of one of the game’s finest leaders. If he can pick Dhoni’s brain and combine his recent international experience to perform well in the IPL, he is almost certain to join a sporting bio-bubble when the T20 World Cup rolls around.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal

RCB’s tryst with the chase renews in IPL 2021. Theirs is a team assembled to win the trophy and yet, somehow, have yet to touch the crown. The RCB faithful are among the most loyal supporters in the IPL as they throng the Chinnaswamy every year with the belief that “Ee sala cup namade” which roughly translates to – this year the cup will be ours. The people of Bengaluru have a big heart when it comes to their cricket team.

And perhaps nobody embodies that spirit in the RCB camp more than Yuzvendra Chahal. The leg spinner has made a career out of bravado in a ground that is not tailored to spin bowling at all. In the small ground, and on a flat pitch where batsman make merry, Chahal has made a career with leg spin bowling. Tact, guile, heart and skill comprise Chahal’s successful secret sauce of scalping batsmen.

ADVERTISEMENT

Form, however, has deserted the diminutive spinner lately. Thus, this IPL will be crucial for him to regain his confidence ahead of the World Cup. He is seen as India’s lead spinner in T20 cricket. And under the national team skipper, if he regains his best, it will push India from strong contender to genuine heavyweight. Chahal himself previously, and Adil Rashid recently, have shown the utility of a wicket taking wrist spinner.

Punjab Kings

Mohammed Shami

The Punjab franchise has a penchant for wholesale changes. Most seasons they overhaul their squad. Some seasons they change their backroom staff. In some others, their captain changes. For IPL 2021, they changed their name. However, one constant from last season is their sole experienced Indian fast bowler – Mohammed Shami.

The seam bowler was a shoo-in for India across formats till late last year. Shami shook off injury problems in 2018 to become India’s premier pacer in 2019 and carried that form till the lockdown in 2020. However, a deadly bouncer in Adelaide sent him to the side lines and he hasn’t been seen since. In his absence, many fast bowlers have stepped up and performed well.

With Bumrah a certainty in the shortest format and India looking for a pacer who can bat at 8, it leaves Shami fighting for one slot with multiple takers. The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan have shown they can be relied on in the death overs. Thus, Shami will have to fast regain his best form to find a place in India’s World Cup squad.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shami, however, has the experience of 4 World Cups behind him and if he can lead the Punjab attack to collective success in IPL 2021 while bowling well individually, there is more than personal glory to be had.

Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson

The first winners of the IPL have since had an up and down road in the tournament. Their Twitter handle, however, has been a winner over the past year. The franchise have been top notch with their social media game and now they would love to consolidate their brand with on field success.

To that end, they have taken some strong decisions. Steve Smith released and Sanju Samson promoted as captain. And for the latter, IPL 2021 is extremely important. The Kerala batsman has been given sparing stints with the Indian national team. However, in the absence of the injured Shreyas Iyer, the number 4 slot is wide open.

Samson has always been a tale of promise and almost deliver. He started the last edition of this tournament in blinding form before tailing away. The natural six-hitting ability of his, backed by a languid style makes him a very effective and watchable player. Samson now needs to have a 600-run IPL and if he can combine that with a playoff finish, it will be very difficult to leave him out of the World Cup squad.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Purple Cap
Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Purple Cap

The Hyderabad franchise seems to be every rival fan’s second favourite team. They are a very likeable bunch – Kane Williamson, Tom Moody, VVS Laxman. It is easy to see why. This team always manages to keep a low profile yet punch well above their weight. In 2019, they almost spoiled CSK’s party and last year, they fell in the playoffs to Delhi Capitals.

The story could well have been different if they had the services of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The pacer got injured in the last IPL and has only retuned to international cricket against England. Bhuvi is a proven customer and if fit, will walk into India’s team.

The if in Bhuvi’s case, however, is rather big. He has been troubled with various injuries which has caused him to serve more time in rehabilitation than in swinging the new ball. Thus, SRH’s player to watch in IPL 2021 is Bhuvneshwar Kumar. In any other season, one would have picked a youngster to keep an eye on. However, in the World Cup season of the IPL, we will have our eyes transfixed on Bhuvi and his fitness. So will captain Kohli.

Delhi Capitals

Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin

Since changing name and ownership, the Delhi franchise has been on an upward trajectory. Ricky Ponting has done a commendable job in ensuring the team that finished consistently outside the top 4, a strong contender for the title.

ADVERTISEMENT

Their quest of winning IPL 2021 was served a rude jolt when captain Shreyas Iyer was ruled out. Rishabh Pant will lead in his absence, but this IPL is an even bigger tournament for Ravichandran Ashwin. The offie has not been considered for the limited overs’ teams since the Champions Trophy in 2017. However, he may breathe a new lease of life given the underperforming Indian wrist spinners.

Such was the situation in the last ODI versus England in the recently concluded series, Kohli fielded only spinner – all rounder Krunal Pandya. In this situation, Ashwin can be considered India’s lead spinner if he manages to pick up wickets for DC in the middle overs. India is blessed with a decent pool of all rounders and Ashwin is not necessarily competing with them for a spot. He may instead make a late dash to usurp the spot of India’s lead spinner. He even has the added advantage of being the most established batsman among Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav or even Rahul Chahar.  

Kolkata Knight Riders

Kuldeep Yadav

KKR carries immense emotional weight in the IPL circles. The people of Kolkata are known to be a unique combination of feisty and emotional. Moreover, KKR is owned by one of Bollywood’s biggest ever stars – Shahrukh Khan. Thus, whatever KKR does is sprinkled with a dose of theatre and box office. Open top bus parades, multiple captains and what not.

The KKR franchise is also known to be a close-knit family. Ask Kamlesh Nagarkoti or Andre Russell. And one man who needs loving at this point is Kuldeep Yadav. Not so long ago he was seen as India’s lead spinner across formats. Today, he can barely get a game in any format. His mystery seems to have vanished. Worst still, his confidence has accompanied the mystery on an uninformed leave.  

ADVERTISEMENT

The situation has become so dire that he was replaced by Varun Chakravarthy in KKR’s playing 11. However, the Chakravarthy ship for India seems to have sailed based on grounds of fitness. The yo-yo failure for the architect turned cricketer has made him a no-no in the national team. Thus, the baton still rests – albeit loosely – in Kuldeep’s hands. If he grabs it firm in IPL 2021 and runs with it, he will be engaged in October-November. If not, he will have an unwanted vacation.

Mumbai Indians

Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav

Mumbai Indians are the only IPL team currently to have zero capped players in their starting lineup from last season’s final. It is easy to see why they are the most successful team in the tournament’s history. And the two-time defending champions. On most days, the team has 7 bowling options, two wicket keepers, and three batsmen who can bat anywhere, in any situation.

And one among them is Suryakumar Yadav. The right hander can open, bat at 3, play at 4 or even finish the innings. He was the only uncapped Indian to score more than 500 runs twice in the IPL. And his consistently fantastic run was rewarded in the England series where he made a strong case.

However, with only one international series behind him, Surya will need a strong performance in IPL 2021 to strongarm his competition into India’s playing 11. And when on song, Surya can strike from ball one – a trait very valuable in T20 cricket. Surya showed last season that he can combine belligerence with maturity.

ADVERTISEMENT

One more run-laden showing and one can expect Suryakumar Yadav to be printed on India’s team list for about a month starting mid-October 2021.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings post video of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina from practice session