CricBattle IPL Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Top 2 foreign players from each team for your fantasy team
The Indian Premier League is, quite simply, the most lucrative, star-studded cricket tournament in the world. The trend of franchise-based cricket started through IPL and many such competitions like Big Bash have started in different parts of the world. The success of IPL has laid down the foundations for all the other leagues. The only thing that differentiates Indian domestic circuit from IPL, other than the massive volumes of money involved, is the inclusion of foreign players. The main objective of the league of 'finding new talent' was taken care of by ensuring only four foreign players make it to the playing XI. There have been many foreign players who have had a great impact in IPL. Let us have a look at top 2 foreign players from every team to have in your fantasy team.
Mumbai Indians:
1. Kieron Pollard : Mumbai Indians have a power-packed foreign roster and it is a difficult task to pick the best among that lot. However, looking at the history, it is certain that Kieron Pollard can be termed as Mumbai's best overseas player.Pollard has always stood and delivered whenever the Mumbai Indians have needed him.A monumental IPL record of 2755 runs at a strike rate of 146 and 56 wickets clearly prove that he has been Mumbai's man for all seasons.
2. Trent Boult : Mumbai Indians seem to have all their bases covered now with the arrival of Trent Boult. They had a couple of fast bowlers who are the best in the business in terms of bowling at the death. What they were lacking at times was someone to make inroads up front and Boult is the ideal fit for the job.The New Zealander is an outstanding swing bowler and the fact that he swings the ball from the left arm over the wicket angle; it adds another dimension to their bowling attack. He has got the natural variation which takes the ball away from the right-handers and when he gets it to swing in, it catches the right-handers in no man’s land most of the time.
Rajasthan Royals:
1. Steven Smith : Steven Smith is going to be one of the most vital components of the Rajasthan Royals squad. He is one of the top players of this generation in international cricket with an outstanding record in all formats.Rajasthan Royals management would want him to score big runs for the franchise as he has done for the Australian National Team. Smith has scored 2022 runs in 81 matches during his IPL career, at an average of 37.44 and a strike rate of 128.95. He scored 319 runs in IPL 2019 along with three half-centuries.
2. Ben Stokes : Ben Stokes made his IPL debut in 2017 for the Rising Pune Giants . He hit a century during his maiden IPL season. He has the talent to be a vital cog in the Rajasthan Royals setup. Although he did not perform to his full potential in IPL 2018 and 2019, he has been in good form for the English cricket team in 2019 and played some really blistering knocks recently.Rajasthan Royals management would want him to repeat the same performance for his franchise as he has done for the English national team. Stokes has scored 635 runs in 34 matches in his IPL career so far at an average of 22,67 with a high score of 103. In 2019, he scored 123 runs at an average of 20.50 with a high score of 46 and also took 6 wickets.
Chennai Super Kings:
1. Sam Curran : Sam Curran is a slingy left-arm bowler who can get the ball to tail away from the right-handers towards the end of the innings on dusty pitches of Chepauk as one side of the ball would often get roughed up on those surfaces. Curran can also be a very handy middle-order batsman. He is not the most powerful striker of the ball, but he has got a big range of shots. He can cut the ball over backward point, can go over extra-cover, can go straight and can pull the ball over the square leg as well. He is a complete all-rounder.
2. Lungi Ngidi : One of the most promising fast bowlers on the international circuit, Lungi Ngidi can play a key role for CSK if he gets it right. The fast bowler was among the key reasons South Africa crushed Australia 3-0 at home in the recent one-day series. Ngidi has come up with a number of match-winning efforts in a short career. He was the Man of the Match on his T20I debut against Sri Lanka and again on Test debut versus India. In the IPL last year, he put in a memorable performance with 4 for 10 against Kings XI Punjab. CSK will expect more of the same from him.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
1. Eoin Morgan : Eoin Morgan can be the link between the top order and the lower middle order of Kolkata Knight Riders.While he has not played in the IPL a lot in the recent years, Morgan has still got a fair bit of experience of playing in the subcontinent conditions as he has been visiting this part of the world regularly as captain of England's white ball teams. Morgan can sweep and reverse-sweep which helps him manipulate the field on both sides, but he can also loft the ball inside out over extra-cover. The left-hander can go straight down the ground against spinners as well.
2. Andre Russell : Andre Russell was unstoppable with the bat last year and snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat on multiple occasions for KKR. He annihilated bowling-attacks and played some unbelievable knocks throughout the season. The Jamaican smashed 510 runs at an outstanding average of 56.66 and a jaw-dropping strike-rate of 204.81. He picked up crucial wickets with the ball too and ended up with 11 wickets in 14 matches. He was also named the most valuable player of the tournament. KKR will hope that Russell repeats his last year's heroics this year too.
Kings XI Punjab:
1. Chris Jordan : Kings XI Punjab struggled a lot with their death bowling in IPL 2019. They had an upper hand on the opposition for the first 16 overs in most of the games, but they lost the plot towards the end and it happened because of the lack of a good death bowler. Chris Jordan can solve the issue for the franchise this season. Jordan has got a terrific yorker, but he can’t be lined up for the fuller length only as he is quick enough to bang the ball short too. He also bowls slower ball bouncers and hardly ever gets predictable.
2. Glenn Maxwell : The only time KXIP reached the finals of the IPL, Glenn Maxwell was the major architect. After a season with Delhi and a year of skipping the IPL, Maxwell is back again with KXIP. As evident from the last two seasons, KXIP’s poor middle-order not being able to capitalize on the platform set by the openers cost them numerous games. However, with an in-form Maxwell in the side, the middle-order now boasts a formidable look. The much-needed finishing role now lies in the safe hands of Maxwell. The Aussie all-rounder is also a more than handy off-spinner who is known for giving crucial breakthroughs. KXIP will be hoping Maxwell to repeat his form of the 2014 season.
Delhi Capitals:
1. Shimron Hetmyer : It’s not too long ago that Hetmyer scored an ODI hundred against India in Chennai which left many people awestruck. It’s not just the runs that Hetmyer scored, the manner in which he scored them blew people’s minds. It was not a very easy wicket to bat on, as the ball was gripping and turning a little bit, but Hetmyer was extremely quick in picking the length of the spinners. He was very clear in his head whether he had to commit forward or back, as he dispatched the Indian bowlers all around the park on his way to a world-class hundred. He can be Delhi’s X-factor this IPL.
2. Marcus Stoinis : While the Australian selectors ignored all-rounder Marcus Stoinis despite his fantastic BBL showing, Delhi Capitals have placed their faith in him. In 17 matches in the BBL for Melbourne Stars, Stoinis smashed 705 runs at an average of 54.23 and a strike rate of 136.62 with one hundred and six fifties, the most by any batsman in a BBL season.If you look at his IPL performance last year, Stoinis played 10 matches and notched up 211 runs at a strike rate of 135.25. He played a few nice cameos, but couldn’t contribute much with the ball. Delhi too will expect Stoinis to come up with the big hits. They can also use him as a floater in the batting order.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
1. Aaron Finch : Aaron Finch has got two 150 plus scores to his name in T20 international cricket which is enough to suggest his potential with the bat. Finch’s precision with his stroke-play is what makes him one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world. Finch is not a hit-and-miss slogger who is unreliable. He has got a method to his power-hitting. He has got the shots for different lengths. If he is playing well, you can’t just stop him by changing your length, as he can play with both vertical and horizontal bat.
2. Moeen Ali : Moeen Ali had a terrific outing in the IPL last year as he was one of the best players for RCB. He has played in only two editions of the IPL but has been a part of several T20 leagues all around the world. Speaking of his numbers in the cash-rich league first, the Birmingham-based player aggregated 220 runs in 11 matches last year with a splendid strike rate of 165.41. He also picked up six wickets with his right-arm off-spin. He has played 158 T20 matches in his career, amassing 3,393 runs and taking 108 wickets. These statistics indicate that he has a lot of experience under his belt.
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
1. Mohammad Nabi : Sunrisers Hyderabad have not used Mohammad Nabi in the best possible manner in the last few years. He has been slotted way too low in the batting order, which has not allowed him to showcase his full range of strokes. Nabi has got the power game and he can be used to provide impetus to the innings in the middle overs when the spinners are bowling.Nabi’s off-spin bowling is the icing on the cake. He is one of those off-spinners who can bowl against the right-handers as well, as he doesn’t quite turn the ball. His trajectory and accuracy are the two major components of his bowling.
2. Jonny Bairstow : Jonny Bairstow is a wicket-keeper batsman who made his IPL debut in 2019 in which he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has scored 445 runs from 10 matches at an average of 55.62, striking at 157.24. The Warner-Bairstow duo was the most destructive batting pair in the IPL 2019; scoring 1,100+ runs combined. SRH management will continue to keep faith on him to replicate his last year's performance in this season, too.