The 17th edition of IPL has kicked off to a spectacular start. From Virat Kohli to Rachin Ravindra, Pat Cummins to Mitchell Starc, Rishab Pant to Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh to Gerald Coetzee, Azmatullah Omarzai to Nicholas Pooran, let’s look at 10 players from the 10 franchises that can make an impact in this year’s IPL.
Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Hailed as one of the best batsmen in the history of the game, Kohli will once again seek to win the maiden IPL title for his side RCB. Bengaluru, despite being three-time runners-up, have never clinched an IPL title. Kohli returns to international cricket, after a two-month break after missing India's recent series against England due to the birth of his second child. A good performance at the IPL will be an ideal build up ahead of the T20 World Cup for the legendary batter.
Rachin Ravindra (Chennai Super Kings)
The New Zealand all-rounder who will be making his debut this IPL season is considered to be among the finest cricketers currently. The 24-year-old was one of the best performers at the 2023 ODI World Cup wherein he became the first batter in World Cup history to score three tons on his World Cup debut. He also broke Sachin Tendulkar's record of most number of centuries before the age of 24 years. No wonder, CSK spent Rs 1.8 crore on him at the auction.
Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders)
After skipping IPL for eight seasons, the Australian pacer was sold to KKR for a massive Rs 24.75 crore this season, the highest bid ever for a player in an IPL auction. During his earlier stint with RCB in 2014 and 2015, Starc was an absolute sensation, delighting the audiences with his phenomenal bowling performances. Now, Kolkata supporters will be hoping that the legendary cricketer’s bowling prowess and charismatic presence can guide their team to an IPL trophy which they have been waiting for a decade.
Rishab Pant (Delhi Capitals)
The rising star of Indian cricket has been out of cricketing action for over 14 months following his accident in December 2022. The skipper of Delhi Capitals will be eager to showcase why Team India felt his absence and try to grab the role as the team's wicketkeeper and finisher for the forthcoming T20 World Cup in later this year.
Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)
One of the best players of spin, the wicket-keeper batsman can take the spinners to task in the middle overs and make in impact on the run rate. Once set, the right-handed batter can be difficult to stop. Samson is known for his ability to hit a lot of sixes to put pressure back on the bowlers.
Pat Cummins (Sun Risers Hyderabad)
The Australian skipper is having a dream run having won the World Test Championship, the Ashes, ODI World Cup. SRH who has bought him for Rs 20.50 crore to become the second-most expensive player in IPL history, will be banking on Cummins' leadership qualities to deliver a favourable result and inject some magic into their squad.
Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)
The Punjab fast bowler will aim to seize the opportunity at IPL to impress upon the selectors to secure a spot in Indian team at the T20 World Cup. With Shami sidelined due to injury, the position for a third pacer in the Indian team is still up for grabs. Punjab will be relying on the pace duo of Arshdeep along with Rabada to take their side to the playoffs after a long time.
Azmatullah Omarzai (Gujarat Titans)
The Afghani all-rounder will bring versatility to the batting order. His ability to swing the new ball in the power play will be a valuable asset to his side. Omarzai's recent form has been impressive, with his bowling prowess showcased during the ODI World Cup and his batting skills highlighted in the recent series against Sri Lanka.
Gerald Coetzee (Mumbai Indians)
The new pace sensation from South Africa burst on the scene during the 2023 ODI World Cup when he picked up 20 wickets for the Proteas. Coetzee, who has an action and pace similar to the legendary Dale Steyn will be looking forward to terrorize the opposition batsmen along with Jasprit Bumrah for Mumbai Indians.
Nicholas Pooran (Lucknow Super Giants)
Considered as one of the most aggressive batters in the world currently, the southpaw has no mercy for the bowlers whatsoever. It is not easy to stop Pooran when he is in flow. On his day, the West Indian batter can win matches on his own. In the middle overs phase, he can change matches in a matter of few overs.
