It has become a much-beloved fixture in the cricket calendar year, and once more the thrills, spills and bellyaches of the Indian Premier League will make waves from April 5 to May 21.
The same eight franchises that participated in IPL 9 will once again do battle, and while many of the same faces will return in an attempt to emulate the excitement of last year’s action, there will be opportunities for newcomers to take the tournament by storm. For example, this will be the first time in the event’s history where many of the centrally-contracted England stars will have the chance to make their IPL bows.
So, here are five of the most eagerly-anticipated debuts in this year’s renewal and whoever snaps up one or more of these players, should be a more attractive proposition as far as the cricket pundits are concerned.
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes
When Andrew Strauss took over the role of Director of England Cricket, he was quick to confirm that he wanted his charges to experience different forms of the game all over the globe. Typically, players from these shores have overlooked the IPL and/or the Big Bash – often due to being on England duty, but Strauss is a man who has recognised the benefits of having three-dimensional, experienced cricketers at his disposal; and credit to him for that.
The upshot is that a number of established England internationals will finally get their first shot at the Indian Premier League, and already Ben Stokes has confirmed he will be entering the auction process.
“I’ve put myself forward for the auction, it’s a good opportunity to go away and experience different competitions,” he has said. “I’m looking forward to seeing if I get the chance to see what it’s all about.”
A feisty all-rounder that has added craft to his modus operandi of bludgeoning carnage in recent times, Stokes will surely be one of the most highly-sought after signatures in the draft.
Jason Roy
One of the most rapidly improving batsmen in the limited overs game anywhere on the planet, Jason Roy – along with many other English talents for that matter – is yet to dip his toe in the IPL waters, but 2017 could be his year.
The England schedule is reasonably clear in the springtime, with a couple of token ODIs the only potential fixture clash with IPL 10. The final of the tournament takes place on Sunday May 21, while the Three Lions’ short-format dust-up with South Africa kicks off on May 24 at Headingley. So, theoretically at least, Roy and Stokes could play a full part in the IPL and still report for England duty ahead of the ODI series with the Proteas.
Roy is on record with his admiration for the competition – “The IPL is definitely on the radar and something I want to be involved in,” – so expect a frantic bidding war for a 26-year-old who has experienced overseas T20 cricket with the Sydney Sixers, and who has established himself as one of the finest short-game exponents around.
Tamim Iqbal
Incredibly, Bangladesh willow-wielder Tamim Iqbal is still to make his IPL bow, despite twice being contracted to now defunct Pune Warriors back in 2012 and 2013. He was injured for much of the ’12 campaign, and was somehow co-opted onto his country’s tour of Zimbabwe in ’13 despite signing an IPL contract to the contrary.
What a coup it would be for any franchise to get their hands on the stylish left-hander. Cast your mind back to the early months of 2016 and you may recall Tamim scoring more runs than any other player in the T20 World Cup, and while the bulk of those came in the preliminary group his swashbuckling 35 against India – which laid the foundation for what was so close to being a historic victory – will surely have caught the eye.
Ian Bell
He might not be the first name that springs to mind when thinking of an explosive T20 batsman, but Ian Bell possess enough natural ability to turn his hand to all forms of the game.
As Rahul Dravid showed in successful spells with the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, there is more than one way to skin a cat in this short form of the game, and Bell’s nous and experience suggests he could be equally as fruitful on Indian soil.
An international T20 batting average of 26.85 isn’t a disaster by any means, and in his stint at the Perth Scorchers – Bell’s first overseas spell of franchise cricket – he hasn’t disappointed either, with eye-catching knocks of 61 and 45 aiding his side’s excellent start to the competition.
With more than 100 test and ODI appearances to his name, Bell would be a hotly contested IPL signing; assuming he makes the voyage to Asia instead of turning out for Warwickshire in the English county game.
Tymal Mills
What a shame that a congenital back condition has largely ended Tymal Mills’ first-class career. The 24-year-old can lay claim to being one of the fastest bowlers on the planet, regularly reaching speeds in excess of 92mph, and the hope was that he would be the long-term replacement to Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad in the England set-up.
The nature of his injury has put an end to such hopes, but Mills has confirmed that he can bowl short spells at maximum velocity with no pain or side effects; he is the perfect T20 gun for hire.
In the past few months alone he has impressed for Auckland and been signed by the Brisbane Heat, and so a stint in the IPL appears to be the natural next step. He will provide a stern test of reaction times with this extraordinary pace.