IPL 2020 is here! Well, almost!
The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League starts on September 19, just under six months after the tournament was initially scheduled to begin. Naturally, excitement levels are starting to rise!
IPL 2020 will be a little different from the previous editions, with the prestigious meet set to be staged in the United Arab Emirates, and not India.
Indian fans will miss having the IPL in its home country, but given all that has gone on in 2020, the fact that the tournament is holding at all is a big win for everyone involved! In those 53 days between September 19 and November 10, we will get to enjoy the biggest players in the world entertain on the most glamorous stage in the sport.
While international superstars like Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers and Lasith Malinga have left indelible marks on the tournament, Indian players have also played significant roles throughout the IPL’s rich history.
We look at five Indian players that could set IPL 2020 alight.
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
Jasprit Bumrah has come a very long way within a short space of time. Back in 2013, when he made his IPL debut, he was an unknown teenager with an awkward bowling action, but he has defied the naysayers and developed into one of the most feared bowlers in all formats of the game.
The Indian quick has been a vital part of Mumbai’s success in the last few years, striking at under 20.0 in each of the last three seasons.
Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)
With Hardik Pandya around, there is never a dull moment. India’s all-action all-rounder can do it all: explosive with the bat, capable with the ball and electric in the field. Pandya underwent back surgery last November and has not played much top level cricket since then, but he is fit again, and ready to go in IPL 2020.
Pandya and his wife recently welcomed their first child- can the cricketer add to the celebrations with another IPL title?
Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
As long as Virat Kohli is part of a cricket tournament, he automatically becomes one of the players to watch, if not THE player to watch. This guy guarantees runs, and will again be a very popular choice with IPL betting fans!
The charismatic Indian skipper has a love-hate relationship with the Indian Premier League. Kohli has more IPL runs than any other player (5412), but he has never won the big trophy with his talented Royal Challengers Bangalore outfit.
Is this the year when King Kohli finally solves the IPL puzzle?
Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
While Kohli is yet to lay his hands on the IPL trophy, his international buddy Rohit Sharma has become the master of the art! Rohit is a five-time IPL champion, winning the title once with the Deccan Chargers and four more times with Mumbai. The 33-year-old has excelled with his captaincy and run-getting, piling on 4898 IPL runs. Only Kohli and Suresh Raina have more runs than the stylish batsman.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
It has been over a year since we last saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni play competitive cricket, but that long wait is about to be over. Despite his inactivity and advancing years (he turned 39 in July), the great man remains one of the biggest draw cards in domestic and international cricket.
The entire cricket world is eagerly anticipating MSD’s return to action at IPL 2020.
