IPL 2021: Team-wise one player who can be a match-winner in UAE leg

With the BCCI now getting ready to organize the 2021 World T20 along with the IPL in the UAE, there seems to be an ocean of T20 cricket getting laid in the middle-east. Especially the IPL that had got ceased in May is finally getting a resumption to complete its remaining games.

However, with some other cricket boards also scheduling their international fixtures during the time of the IPL or even before that, there seems to be an overabundance of T20 cricket happening that eventually provides uncertainty when it comes to the availability of the overseas elite players in the second leg of the IPL. While the ECB has already discarded the availability of English players, the Australian board also appears to be dubious about their player’s participation in the carnival event.

Hence with the unprecedented vacuity of elite stars, the franchises will now have to inevitably rely on their steadfast pillars to apparently make them soar high in the remainder event. Overall, the arbitrary situation also immensely raises the onus on such stalwarts, therefore in this list let’s check out –

One player from each IPL team who can shine in UAE leg

1. CSK- Faf Du Plessis

In the IPL 2021, the yellow army had played some explosive brand of cricket and perhaps also had the best balance in terms of all teams in the competition. Especially, because of the players like Moeen Ali and Sam Curran, CSK had solved its problem of big-hitting but with the English players being non-available now, there seems to be a huge onus on Faf Du Plessis’s reliable batting.

While in the first leg of IPL 2021, Faf with his steadfast gameplay used to bat deep that eventually had allowed other batters to play their free natural game. In fact, with this anchored approach, Du Plessis has scored a commendable number of 320 runs from his 7 games that also includes a shooting average of 64 along with a stable strike rate of 145.45. However, with the batting order now receiving a restructuring, the team would definitely prefer that Faf continues to score heavily from the top.

Even in the last edition of the IPL, Du Plessis was constantly amongst the runs, as from his 13 games, the South African veteran had scored 449 runs at an average of 40.81 along with an impressive strike rate of 140.75. While in the second leg of the IPL, batters like Raina and Rayudu will continue to play an attacking brand of cricket, Du Plessis’s reliability at the top will eventually allow CSK to amass some mounting totals. Overall, with Faf also aiming to make it into SA’s World T20 squad, the 36-year old surely also has a lot of motive to emerge out as CSK’s biggest match-winner in the second leg of the IPL.

2. DC- Shikhar Dhawan

In the IPL 2020, the DC franchise had a horrid time with its opening combination merely because of Prithvi Shaw’s malfunction. But in the 2021 edition, the team seemed to be fitful with its middle-order batting. However, amidst this, someone like a Shikhar Dhawan has been brimming with runs eventually turning out as a reliable match-winner for DC across both seasons.

The left-handed batter so far has played 8 matches in the 2021 season and has already scored 380 runs at a consistent average of above 54. His batting gameplay not only allows Dhawan to bat deep for DC but also makes him seamlessly yield some frisky runs especially against spinners in the middle passage of play. Even in the IPL 2020, Shikhar had emerged out as a steady pillar of DC’s batting by specifically amassing a stack of 618 runs at an average of 44.14.

Hence, with the southpaw also having a vigorous mission of breaking into India’s World T20 playing XI, Dhawan surely would be looking to brim himself with wins and take his franchise to the top of the table.

3. MI – Suryakumar Yadav

By emerging as MI’s vital cog from the last few years, SKY’s steadfast batting has made him the franchise’s biggest match-winner. Since IPL 2018, Suryakumar has also been the team’s highest run-getter, eventually brimming himself with more than 400 runs each season. Also, his ability to rise on big occasions has majorly helped MI clinch trouncing victories especially in the knockout stages where often the pressure gets the better of a player.

Even in the IPL 2021, when MI had become topsy-turvy on the shoddy Chepauk pitches, it was Yadav’s infallible batting that had consistently moved the scoreboard. Further, his extraordinary ability of equally playing both spin and pace well has always allowed him to take the game away from the opponent and be a tone-setter for MI’s vicious middle-order.

Hence, with the conditions in UAE where the ball will attain true bounce on the pitches of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah along with getting skewed in the slow tracks of the Dubai stadium, SKY does become one of those very rare players of MI, who effortlessly can score runs without requiring through the line hitting. Therefore, with also being a 360-degree player who can still excel in non-batting friendly conditions, SKY can soar MI to its record sixth IPL title.

4. PBKS – KL Rahul

Punjab Kings’ overall batting order has been underwhelming in the IPL 2021 and so far has also swayed its skipper from playing his natural game of attacking. Players like Nicholas Pooran have highly malfunctioned and the team’s inexperienced lower-middle order has propelled KL Rahul to bat deep as much as possible. Even the universal Boss was seen getting grim as he could not elevate his strike rate even above 135.

Hence with Rahul being the prime steadfast pillar of the side, his overall remainder of the IPL will be very crucial if PBKS has to qualify for the playoffs. For the entire batting lineup of the PBKS team, the UAE leg might become fruitful as the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda and Chris Gayle will cherish the flat pitches of Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Once if players like Nicholas Pooran start to shine with their through-the-line hitting, the skipper will then also try to play his natural game of pouncing.

However, even if the middle-order batting continues to be woeful, Rahul then definitely has to bat out of his skin as he’s the only most consistent batter of the entire team. All in all, despite the entire batting order collectively getting clicked or not, skipper Rahul has to play some unwavering cricket.

5. SRH – Kane Williamson

With the likes of David Warner, Johnny Bairstow, and Jason Roy being unavailable, the SRH side seems to be in deep trouble before the second leg of IPL 2021. Also, with barely having some other exuberant overseas names in the squad, a lot then looks to rely upon skipper Kane Williamson’s shoulders.

Although the franchise definitely will indulge in some quality buying to give themselves a lofty chance, Kane Williamson’s personal batting form needs to be much loftier than his form in the first leg. So far the Kiwi skipper was SRH’s best batter in the first leg of IPL 2021 and had scored 128 runs from his 4 games at a towering average of 128. Also, since SRH were seen chasing a lot, Williamson seemed to be the only steadfast player of the team for the first half of IPL 2021.

Unfortunately, the orange army is also currently placed at the rearmost end of the points table and perhaps requires all the wins to qualify for playoffs. Overall, in a general sense, Williamson needs to have a miraculous IPL otherwise the team might become the pioneers in terms of getting themselves knocked out of the tournament.

6. RCB – AB de Villiers

The red-army for a change had a soaring start in the IPL 2021 and were probably indulged as one of the hot contenders to lift the 2021 IPL trophy. That’s because players like Glenn Maxwell, Harshal Patel, and Mohammad Siraj had emerged out as the new match-winners of the team but with someone like Glenn Maxwell getting dubious with his availability, again the onus on ABD becomes titanic.

While ABD personally had a remarkable IPL 2021 wherein he is averaging above 51 and also has a booming strike rate of 164.28, someone like Glenn Maxwell above him had meritoriously allowed the South African to play his natural game. With the absence of Maxwell, again De Villiers will then have to glue the entire middle-order and eventually might also become cautions with his overall approach.

Especially, in the IPL 2020 where RCB were heavily reliant on ABD, the South African had to bat long and thus his overall strike rate did end in the late 150s. Also precisely, during the time of big run chases, De Villiers might also require to bat valiantly merely because of the reason of finishing the games. Overall, while RCB at present might comfortably get to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2021, but in big knock matches, De Villiers will be required to bring his best A-game.

7. KKR- Andre Russell

KKR’s at present skipper Eoin Morgan will be out for his national team’s assignment in Pakistan and surely will be missing the second leg of the IPL. His non-availably for the remaining matches then becomes a big task for KKR, inevitably making Andre Russell now play a herculean role in KKR’s grotty middle-order. Even the likes of DK, whose a vital cog in the middle-order had a bleak first leg of IPL 2021.

In his last few matches of the first leg, Russell had started to exhibit his Russell-Muscle show but fully wasn’t on song. The Caribbean all-rounder merely scored a single fifty and had become subdued with his match finishing skills. For KKR to collectively have a booming IPL, Russell will have to take the onus of the middle-order batting as with Morgan’s departure, KKR might infuse someone like Ben Cutting to strengthen their explosiveness. The flat pitches of Sharjah and Abu Dhabi might actually benefit Andre’s Russell’s overall gameplay and once if the Jamaican gets into the full-action, assuredly Russell can produce some game-changing scenarios.

However, KKR’s current rear standing at the points table is a serious complication as the team might require a win in each of its games to qualify for playoffs. Therefore, to attain a sky-high triumph like a playoffs spot, Russell’s all-round abilities including his death bowing will be the key for KKR.

8. RR- Sanju Samson

There’s no doubt that the premier players of England’s white-ball team are also the premier players of the RR side and hence without their presence the team seems to face an ordeal. Especially with the likes of Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, and Ben Stokes being their top overseas recruits in the batting, without them the RR’s overall batting lineup eventually becomes frail.

While the team just like SRH will be indulging itself to gain some quality replacements but at present skipper Sanju Samson does becomes the biggest match-winner of the franchise. Currently, the RR team is standing at the fifth position in the points table and probably needs a strenuous 5-6 wins to qualify for the playoffs.   For the second leg, they still seem to have a quality bowling attack but their ailing batting that merely comprises of some young Indian prospects has to inevitably escapade and skyrocket with their performances.

However, by looking at the current names in their batting order, only Sanju Samson seems to be that prospect who can valiantly help RR triumph. Overall, the flat tracks of certain venues will positively suit Samson’s batting but the frail batting equation will also become a huge test of his mental temperament.