IPL 2023: Meet the bench warmers from abroad. Cricket
The available talent pool makes the Indian Premier League (IPL) the best of its kind in the world. But the limit on overseas representation – only four can play – in a bid to unearth more Indian talent means many foreigners miss out on playing time. So what if they are players who impact games in other franchise leagues.
Midway through IPL 2023, there are 16 players across 10 teams, some of them heavily paid, who are yet to play. If one does field a side from this group, how will it fare against the current teams? So now let’s start.
top order
Quinton de Kock would not have imagined sitting out half the season after his 44-ball T20 century against the West Indies last month. De Kock was a prolific scorer for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in his debut season last year, scoring 508 runs at a strike rate of 148.97. But with South Africa releasing players late from the ODI series against the Netherlands, Kyle Mayers grabbed the opportunity and retained the opening slot for Lucknow.
De Kock will be accompanied by compatriot Devald Brewis. Called Baby AB, this de Villiers’ batting clone cannot be missed. There are teams like Delhi Capitals who are not getting any runs from the top order and here they are with Mumbai Indians who cannot play them, simply because their overseas bowling cupboard is empty. Brewis plunders boundaries for MI Cape Town in SA20 but here he is out.
At No.3, the untapped T20 talent of Joe Root could be given a platform to take over the wild dancing duties and other social media content for Rajasthan Royals.
middle order
It won’t be easy for Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka to break into Gujarat Titans’ playing 11 but what’s not good about his attacking strokeplay and all-round skills.
How to get Donovan Ferreira of the Royals to follow Shanaka in the batting order? The South African will remind you of the India and Chennai Super Kings legend in his ability to bowl and keep wickets. Therefore, it is fitting that the Johannesburg Super Kings would pay 5.5 million rand (around $300,000) for him in last year’s SA20 auction. In the IPL, Ferreira is waiting for his turn at Rajasthan Royals.
Guyana all-rounder Romario Shepherd can bat at number six. The West Indies player put in several aggressive batting displays against South Africa last month. He is struggling to find a place in the Lucknow team.
Matthew Wade of Gujarat Titans can play the role of a lower-order striker, as he does for Australia. If he is able to replicate the performance he did in the 2021 T20 World Cup, then this team can scare many franchises.
bowler
The best batsman in the bowling group bats at number 8. Everyone knows the hitting power of Odion Smith. He will also be expected to make moves with the ball. It is sad that Gujarat Titans have invested heavily in spin.
West Indies left-arm spinner Akil Hossein is one of the most underrated T20 bowlers. In 103 T20s, he has a bowling SR of 22.7 with an economy of 6.68. With the pitches getting slower and slower, Sunrisers Hyderabad might consider giving him a chance. They just haven’t done it yet.
The two untested imports in ’11 will be the fiery left-arm pacers Obed McCoy and Josh Hazlewood. Rajasthan Royals seem to have forgotten that Obed was the real McCoy in 2022. He can work his way back to full fitness with this non-playing overseas XI, before Hazlewood recovers and replaces him at Royal Challengers Bangalore.
impact player
Considering the flavor of the season, Ferreira could also be an impact option as a lower-order hard-hitter. Ditto Lungi Ngidi who can’t break into Delhi Capitals, as can New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson (CSK), Australian left-arm pacer Daniel Sams (LSG) and New Zealand top-order batsman Finn Allen (RCB).
