The 2017 edition of the IPL is all set to get underway. Over the years, the most popular T20 league in the world has only got bigger and better with each passing edition. It comes as no surprise that the hype around the upcoming edition is unprecedented as the biggest stars of world cricket are ready to get under one umbrella yet again. The 2017 auctions saw the addition of some power packed performers in the roster.

A perfect blend of international stars and domestic youth are set to put up two-month long carnival for the fans. The teams have got their balances right and went in with plans at the auction. With the intended players on the list, they now will feel confident of doing well this season.

While all players are obviously a valued asset to their respective franchises, there are a few who are being tipped as the vital cogs in the wheel for the teams. These vital cogs, or the trump cards, will be the ones bagging most of the headlines throughout the IPL 2017.

Here we have the team wise trump card of all the teams this season:

1. Mumbai Indians &#8211; Lasith Malinga

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Lasith-Malinga-MI-e1491057102418.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-15340" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Malinga-MI-e1491057102418.jpg" alt="Lasith Malinga" width="600" height="421"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15340" class="wp-caption-text">Lasith Malinga MI. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

The veteran Sri Lankan bowler, Lasith Malinga, has missed most of the IPL action in the previous two editions of the tournament. But this time, the slingy pacer is all fit and raring to go for the Mumbai Indians outfit. The Mumbai franchise has often boasted of a strong batting lineup.

It has been their bowling that proved to be a weaklink for them last year and cost them dearly. Now, their most experienced bowler is back on the roster and they will hope for the fortunes to change. Over the years, Malinga has arguably been the most successful bowlers and a title contender for the Purple Cap as well.

In the 98 IPL matches that he has played, he has scalped 143 wickets at a staggering average of 17.80 and brilliant strike rate of 16. He has four 4-wicket hauls to his name to go with a five-for as well. He was on a rampage in the 2011 edition where he bagged 28 wickets in 16 matches.

2. Royal Challengers Bangalore &#8211; Tymal Mills

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/04/Tymal-Mills.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-127432" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Tymal-Mills.jpg" alt="RCB Tymal Mills" width="600" height="415" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-127432" class="wp-caption-text">Tymal Mills. (Photo by Simon Watts/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The upcoming edition of the popular T20 league is slated to be the one for the bowlers. The bowlers this year look all pumped up to put on a brilliant show. Royal Challengers Bangalore had an early jolt of missing the services of Mitchell Starc. However, they have managed to rope in the services of English T20 specialist Tymal Mills.

Mills was bought as the second most expensive player in the 2017 auctions and clearly indicates how valuable he is to the team. Mills, who had cut down his career in the longer formats due to an injury, is a renowned T20 bowler. His ability to bowl highly deceptive slower balls make him an ideal pick in the line up.

Mills was last seen plying his trade for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League. Apart from the PSL, he has played in the T20 leagues in New Zealand, the Big Bash League in Australia and the Bangladesh Premier League.

3. Rising Pune Supergiants &#8211; Ben Stokes

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-81215" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg" alt="Ben Stokes IPL 2017" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81215" class="wp-caption-text">England cricketer Ben Stokes. (Photo credit PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The biggest name that went in to the IPL auctions this year was English all-rounder Ben Stokes. Stokes emerged as the most expensive player this season. The RPS unit had a disappointing time in the previous edition of the tournament where they finished at the penultimate position in the list.

Stokes is a handy all-rounder who might serve the purpose for the RPS side. He is a proven wicket taker in the shortest format of the game and uses the long handle to the perfection with the bat in the lower order and the middle order too. In the 77 T20s that he has played thus far, he has 1272 runs to his name with a strike rate of 134.03.

He also had bagged 32 wickets with a strike rate of just over 25. Most recently, when England toured India for the bilateral series, Stokes was impressive in the limited overs fixtures where he showed some real aggressive intent.

4. Sunrisers Hyderabad &#8211; Rashid Khan

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/03/Rashid-Khan-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-120175" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rashid-Khan-1.jpg" alt="Rashid Khan" width="600" height="450" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-120175" class="wp-caption-text">Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/i-still-cant-describe-the-feeling-when-my-name-came-up-for-auction-rashid-khan/">The young </a>18 year old Afghanistan leggie created history by being among the only two Afghanistan players to have made it to the IPL roster this season. The defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad were keen on roping in the leggie and now he is all set to be the trump card of the side.

The SRH camp is known for unearthing young talents. Last year, they had unearthed the young Bangladeshi pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman. This time, it looks very certain that the crowds might see another youngster doing big things at the tournament. He recently bagged figures of 5/3 in a T20I fixture that kept the audiences awestruck.

In the 24 T20Is that he has played, he has managed to pick 40 wickets with a brilliant average of 13.82. His economy with the ball is 6.07, which can safely be termed as a very preferred number in this format of the game.

5. Delhi Daredevils &#8211; Rishabh Pant

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Rishabh-Pant.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67147" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rishabh-Pant.jpg" alt="Rishabh Pant" width="600" height="412" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67147" class="wp-caption-text">Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/12-facts-about-rishabh-pant/">Young batting sensation Rishabh Pant </a>has made giant strides in the world of cricket ever since he broke out on the big scene during the U19 World Cup last year. He had smashed the fastest fifty at that level to announce his arrival. Rishabh Pant has been in a rollicking form in the ongoing domestic season in India.

He finished with over 900 runs for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy that included a whirlwind triple century against Maharashtra. He also hit the fastest Ranji Trophy century this year (48 balls) against Jharkhand in another fixture. He translated his good run of form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and then in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.

Pant is a hard hitting batsman who had played a few games for Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2016. However, given the red hot form that he is in, Pant is bound to be the trump card for his side in this edition of the tournament.

6. Kings XI Punjab &#8211; Marcus Stoinis

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Marcus-Stoinis-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67306" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Marcus-Stoinis-1.jpg" alt="Marcus Stoinis Kings XI Punjab IPL 9" width="600" height="439" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67306" class="wp-caption-text">Marcus Stoinis. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

The Kings XI Punjab have had two disappointing editions of the tournament in the previous two years. This year, they are set to play under the leadership of Glenn Maxwell. Many would believe that Maxwell would be the trump card for the franchise. Well, there is no denial of that fact.

However, the main man could well be another Australian all-rounder &#8211; Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis was the stand out performer for the Kings last year. This year, too, he will be in the starting eleven for the side. Stoinis recently clobbered the New Zealand side in an ODI fixture where he smashed an unbeaten 146, albeit in a losing cause.

Stoinis is a handy bowler too and had picked up a four wicket haul in the previous edition of the tournament. In the 34 T20s that he has played, he had picked 22 wickets with a strike rate as impressive as 16.9. He had 480 runs to his name with a strike rate of 115.94 and a top score of 52.

7. Kolkata Knight Riders &#8211; Manish Pandey

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Manish-Pandey-kkr-e1491056927276.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-18435" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manish-Pandey-kkr-e1491056927276.jpg" alt="Manish Pandey" width="600" height="409"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-18435" class="wp-caption-text">Manish Pandey KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

When Manish Pandey had hit a magnificent 114 in the 2009 edition of the IPL, he had become an instant hit in Indian domestic circuit. Year after year, the India international has managed to mature more and has now become one of the senior most players in the two-time champions team Kolkata Knight Riders.

Pandey, who was the man of the match in the IPL 2014 finals, will hold the fort for the KKR batting this year. His batting in the top order with Robin Uthappa, combined with pyrotechniques of Yusuf Pathan down the order, can prove to be match winning formula for the Knights.

Pandey has played 89 matches for the KKR side and has been a heavy scorer. He has 1819 runs to his name at a strike rate of 118.42. With 7 fifties and a ton under his belt, he surely has been a revelation for Indian cricket in the history of the tournament.

8. Gujarat Lions &#8211; Suresh Raina

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/04/Suresh-Raina-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68699" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-1.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina, Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="436" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68699" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

The Gujarat Lions boasts of some very big names in their camp. All the players like Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, and new addition Jason Roy are proven match winners on a given day. They have been hampered by the injury of their in-form player Ravindra Jadeja who could have been their trump card. Now, with Jadeja being injured, the entire hopes will be on the swashbuckling out-of-favor candidate skipper Suresh Raina.

Raina needs no introduction when it comes to IPL cricket. He has been a phenomenal performer in the tournament history and boasts of a century in the tournament as well. When he was plying his trade for the Chennai Superkings, he had an astounding record of not skipping a game across the seasons. He had a lackluster IPL season last year when he captained the newbie Gujarat Lions. With 399 runs in 15 matches, he surely did have a quiet time with the bat.

However, his overall numbers in the T20 league are staggering. In the 147 matches that he has played, he has amassed 4098 runs at an average over 33 and has 28 fifties to his name to go with a ton. Moreover, what would make him work even harder is the stark fact that he was recently omitted from the Indian central contracts this year.

The 2017 edition of the IPL is all set to get underway. Over the years, the most popular T20 league in the world has only got bigger and better with each passing edition. It comes as no surprise that the hype around the upcoming edition is unprecedented as the biggest stars of world cricket are ready to get under one umbrella yet again. The 2017 auctions saw the addition of some power packed performers in the roster.
A perfect blend of international stars and domestic youth are set to put up two-month long carnival for the fans. The teams have got their balances right and went in with plans at the auction. With the intended players on the list, they now will feel confident of doing well this season.
While all players are obviously a valued asset to their respective franchises, there are a few who are being tipped as the vital cogs in the wheel for the teams. These vital cogs, or the trump cards, will be the ones bagging most of the headlines throughout the IPL 2017.
Here we have the team wise trump card of all the teams this season:
<h3>1. Mumbai Indians – Lasith Malinga</h3>
<figure id="attachment_15340" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15340" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Lasith-Malinga-MI-e1491057102418.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-15340" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Malinga-MI-e1491057102418.jpg" alt="Lasith Malinga" width="600" height="421" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15340" class="wp-caption-text">Lasith Malinga MI. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
The veteran Sri Lankan bowler, Lasith Malinga, has missed most of the IPL action in the previous two editions of the tournament. But this time, the slingy pacer is all fit and raring to go for the Mumbai Indians outfit. The Mumbai franchise has often boasted of a strong batting lineup.
It has been their bowling that proved to be a weaklink for them last year and cost them dearly. Now, their most experienced bowler is back on the roster and they will hope for the fortunes to change. Over the years, Malinga has arguably been the most successful bowlers and a title contender for the Purple Cap as well.
In the 98 IPL matches that he has played, he has scalped 143 wickets at a staggering average of 17.80 and brilliant strike rate of 16. He has four 4-wicket hauls to his name to go with a five-for as well. He was on a rampage in the 2011 edition where he bagged 28 wickets in 16 matches.
<h3>2. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Tymal Mills</h3>
<figure id="attachment_127432" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-127432" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/04/Tymal-Mills.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-127432" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Tymal-Mills.jpg" alt="RCB Tymal Mills" width="600" height="415" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-127432" class="wp-caption-text">Tymal Mills. (Photo by Simon Watts/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The upcoming edition of the popular T20 league is slated to be the one for the bowlers. The bowlers this year look all pumped up to put on a brilliant show. Royal Challengers Bangalore had an early jolt of missing the services of Mitchell Starc. However, they have managed to rope in the services of English T20 specialist Tymal Mills.
Mills was bought as the second most expensive player in the 2017 auctions and clearly indicates how valuable he is to the team. Mills, who had cut down his career in the longer formats due to an injury, is a renowned T20 bowler. His ability to bowl highly deceptive slower balls make him an ideal pick in the line up.
Mills was last seen plying his trade for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League. Apart from the PSL, he has played in the T20 leagues in New Zealand, the Big Bash League in Australia and the Bangladesh Premier League.
<h3>3. Rising Pune Supergiants – Ben Stokes</h3>
<figure id="attachment_81215" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81215" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-81215" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg" alt="Ben Stokes IPL 2017" width="600" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81215" class="wp-caption-text">England cricketer Ben Stokes. (Photo credit PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The biggest name that went in to the IPL auctions this year was English all-rounder Ben Stokes. Stokes emerged as the most expensive player this season. The RPS unit had a disappointing time in the previous edition of the tournament where they finished at the penultimate position in the list.
Stokes is a handy all-rounder who might serve the purpose for the RPS side. He is a proven wicket taker in the shortest format of the game and uses the long handle to the perfection with the bat in the lower order and the middle order too. In the 77 T20s that he has played thus far, he has 1272 runs to his name with a strike rate of 134.03.
He also had bagged 32 wickets with a strike rate of just over 25. Most recently, when England toured India for the bilateral series, Stokes was impressive in the limited overs fixtures where he showed some real aggressive intent.
<h3>4. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Rashid Khan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_120175" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-120175" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/03/Rashid-Khan-1.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-120175" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rashid-Khan-1.jpg" alt="Rashid Khan" width="600" height="450" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-120175" class="wp-caption-text">Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/i-still-cant-describe-the-feeling-when-my-name-came-up-for-auction-rashid-khan/">The young </a>18 year old Afghanistan leggie created history by being among the only two Afghanistan players to have made it to the IPL roster this season. The defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad were keen on roping in the leggie and now he is all set to be the trump card of the side.
The SRH camp is known for unearthing young talents. Last year, they had unearthed the young Bangladeshi pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman. This time, it looks very certain that the crowds might see another youngster doing big things at the tournament. He recently bagged figures of 5/3 in a T20I fixture that kept the audiences awestruck.
In the 24 T20Is that he has played, he has managed to pick 40 wickets with a brilliant average of 13.82. His economy with the ball is 6.07, which can safely be termed as a very preferred number in this format of the game.
<h3>5. Delhi Daredevils – Rishabh Pant</h3>
<figure id="attachment_67147" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67147" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Rishabh-Pant.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-67147" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rishabh-Pant.jpg" alt="Rishabh Pant" width="600" height="412" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67147" class="wp-caption-text">Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/12-facts-about-rishabh-pant/">Young batting sensation Rishabh Pant </a>has made giant strides in the world of cricket ever since he broke out on the big scene during the U19 World Cup last year. He had smashed the fastest fifty at that level to announce his arrival. Rishabh Pant has been in a rollicking form in the ongoing domestic season in India.
He finished with over 900 runs for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy that included a whirlwind triple century against Maharashtra. He also hit the fastest Ranji Trophy century this year (48 balls) against Jharkhand in another fixture. He translated his good run of form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and then in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.
Pant is a hard hitting batsman who had played a few games for Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2016. However, given the red hot form that he is in, Pant is bound to be the trump card for his side in this edition of the tournament.
<h3>6. Kings XI Punjab – Marcus Stoinis</h3>
<figure id="attachment_67306" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67306" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Marcus-Stoinis-1.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-67306" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Marcus-Stoinis-1.jpg" alt="Marcus Stoinis Kings XI Punjab IPL 9" width="600" height="439" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67306" class="wp-caption-text">Marcus Stoinis. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
The Kings XI Punjab have had two disappointing editions of the tournament in the previous two years. This year, they are set to play under the leadership of Glenn Maxwell. Many would believe that Maxwell would be the trump card for the franchise. Well, there is no denial of that fact.
However, the main man could well be another Australian all-rounder – Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis was the stand out performer for the Kings last year. This year, too, he will be in the starting eleven for the side. Stoinis recently clobbered the New Zealand side in an ODI fixture where he smashed an unbeaten 146, albeit in a losing cause.
Stoinis is a handy bowler too and had picked up a four wicket haul in the previous edition of the tournament. In the 34 T20s that he has played, he had picked 22 wickets with a strike rate as impressive as 16.9. He had 480 runs to his name with a strike rate of 115.94 and a top score of 52.
<h3>7. Kolkata Knight Riders – Manish Pandey</h3>
<figure id="attachment_18435" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-18435" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Manish-Pandey-kkr-e1491056927276.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-18435" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manish-Pandey-kkr-e1491056927276.jpg" alt="Manish Pandey" width="600" height="409" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-18435" class="wp-caption-text">Manish Pandey KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
When Manish Pandey had hit a magnificent 114 in the 2009 edition of the IPL, he had become an instant hit in Indian domestic circuit. Year after year, the India international has managed to mature more and has now become one of the senior most players in the two-time champions team Kolkata Knight Riders.
Pandey, who was the man of the match in the IPL 2014 finals, will hold the fort for the KKR batting this year. His batting in the top order with Robin Uthappa, combined with pyrotechniques of Yusuf Pathan down the order, can prove to be match winning formula for the Knights.
Pandey has played 89 matches for the KKR side and has been a heavy scorer. He has 1819 runs to his name at a strike rate of 118.42. With 7 fifties and a ton under his belt, he surely has been a revelation for Indian cricket in the history of the tournament.
<h3>8. Gujarat Lions – Suresh Raina</h3>
<figure id="attachment_68699" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68699" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/04/Suresh-Raina-1.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-68699" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-1.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina, Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="436" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68699" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
The Gujarat Lions boasts of some very big names in their camp. All the players like Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, and new addition Jason Roy are proven match winners on a given day. They have been hampered by the injury of their in-form player Ravindra Jadeja who could have been their trump card. Now, with Jadeja being injured, the entire hopes will be on the swashbuckling out-of-favor candidate skipper Suresh Raina.
Raina needs no introduction when it comes to IPL cricket. He has been a phenomenal performer in the tournament history and boasts of a century in the tournament as well. When he was plying his trade for the Chennai Superkings, he had an astounding record of not skipping a game across the seasons. He had a lackluster IPL season last year when he captained the newbie Gujarat Lions. With 399 runs in 15 matches, he surely did have a quiet time with the bat.
However, his overall numbers in the T20 league are staggering. In the 147 matches that he has played, he has amassed 4098 runs at an average over 33 and has 28 fifties to his name to go with a ton. Moreover, what would make him work even harder is the stark fact that he was recently omitted from the Indian central contracts this year.

The 2017 edition of the IPL is all set to get underway. Over the years, the most popular T20 league in the world has only got bigger and better with each passing edition. It comes as no surprise that the hype around the upcoming edition is unprecedented as the biggest stars of world cricket are ready to get under one umbrella yet again. The 2017 auctions saw the addition of some power packed performers in the roster.
A perfect blend of international stars and domestic youth are set to put up two-month long carnival for the fans. The teams have got their balances right and went in with plans at the auction. With the intended players on the list, they now will feel confident of doing well this season.
While all players are obviously a valued asset to their respective franchises, there are a few who are being tipped as the vital cogs in the wheel for the teams. These vital cogs, or the trump cards, will be the ones bagging most of the headlines throughout the IPL 2017.
Here we have the team wise trump card of all the teams this season:
<h3>1. Mumbai Indians &#8211; Lasith Malinga</h3>
<figure id="attachment_15340" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15340" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Lasith-Malinga-MI-e1491057102418.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-15340" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Malinga-MI-e1491057102418.jpg" alt="Lasith Malinga" width="600" height="421"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15340" class="wp-caption-text">Lasith Malinga MI. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
The veteran Sri Lankan bowler, Lasith Malinga, has missed most of the IPL action in the previous two editions of the tournament. But this time, the slingy pacer is all fit and raring to go for the Mumbai Indians outfit. The Mumbai franchise has often boasted of a strong batting lineup.
It has been their bowling that proved to be a weaklink for them last year and cost them dearly. Now, their most experienced bowler is back on the roster and they will hope for the fortunes to change. Over the years, Malinga has arguably been the most successful bowlers and a title contender for the Purple Cap as well.
In the 98 IPL matches that he has played, he has scalped 143 wickets at a staggering average of 17.80 and brilliant strike rate of 16. He has four 4-wicket hauls to his name to go with a five-for as well. He was on a rampage in the 2011 edition where he bagged 28 wickets in 16 matches.
<h3>2. Royal Challengers Bangalore &#8211; Tymal Mills</h3>
<figure id="attachment_127432" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-127432" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/04/Tymal-Mills.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-127432" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Tymal-Mills.jpg" alt="RCB Tymal Mills" width="600" height="415" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-127432" class="wp-caption-text">Tymal Mills. (Photo by Simon Watts/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The upcoming edition of the popular T20 league is slated to be the one for the bowlers. The bowlers this year look all pumped up to put on a brilliant show. Royal Challengers Bangalore had an early jolt of missing the services of Mitchell Starc. However, they have managed to rope in the services of English T20 specialist Tymal Mills.
Mills was bought as the second most expensive player in the 2017 auctions and clearly indicates how valuable he is to the team. Mills, who had cut down his career in the longer formats due to an injury, is a renowned T20 bowler. His ability to bowl highly deceptive slower balls make him an ideal pick in the line up.
Mills was last seen plying his trade for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League. Apart from the PSL, he has played in the T20 leagues in New Zealand, the Big Bash League in Australia and the Bangladesh Premier League.
<h3>3. Rising Pune Supergiants &#8211; Ben Stokes</h3>
<figure id="attachment_81215" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81215" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-81215" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg" alt="Ben Stokes IPL 2017" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81215" class="wp-caption-text">England cricketer Ben Stokes. (Photo credit PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The biggest name that went in to the IPL auctions this year was English all-rounder Ben Stokes. Stokes emerged as the most expensive player this season. The RPS unit had a disappointing time in the previous edition of the tournament where they finished at the penultimate position in the list.
Stokes is a handy all-rounder who might serve the purpose for the RPS side. He is a proven wicket taker in the shortest format of the game and uses the long handle to the perfection with the bat in the lower order and the middle order too. In the 77 T20s that he has played thus far, he has 1272 runs to his name with a strike rate of 134.03.
He also had bagged 32 wickets with a strike rate of just over 25. Most recently, when England toured India for the bilateral series, Stokes was impressive in the limited overs fixtures where he showed some real aggressive intent.
<h3>4. Sunrisers Hyderabad &#8211; Rashid Khan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_120175" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-120175" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/03/Rashid-Khan-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-120175" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rashid-Khan-1.jpg" alt="Rashid Khan" width="600" height="450" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-120175" class="wp-caption-text">Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/i-still-cant-describe-the-feeling-when-my-name-came-up-for-auction-rashid-khan/">The young </a>18 year old Afghanistan leggie created history by being among the only two Afghanistan players to have made it to the IPL roster this season. The defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad were keen on roping in the leggie and now he is all set to be the trump card of the side.
The SRH camp is known for unearthing young talents. Last year, they had unearthed the young Bangladeshi pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman. This time, it looks very certain that the crowds might see another youngster doing big things at the tournament. He recently bagged figures of 5/3 in a T20I fixture that kept the audiences awestruck.
In the 24 T20Is that he has played, he has managed to pick 40 wickets with a brilliant average of 13.82. His economy with the ball is 6.07, which can safely be termed as a very preferred number in this format of the game.
<h3>5. Delhi Daredevils &#8211; Rishabh Pant</h3>
<figure id="attachment_67147" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67147" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Rishabh-Pant.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67147" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rishabh-Pant.jpg" alt="Rishabh Pant" width="600" height="412" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67147" class="wp-caption-text">Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/12-facts-about-rishabh-pant/">Young batting sensation Rishabh Pant </a>has made giant strides in the world of cricket ever since he broke out on the big scene during the U19 World Cup last year. He had smashed the fastest fifty at that level to announce his arrival. Rishabh Pant has been in a rollicking form in the ongoing domestic season in India.
He finished with over 900 runs for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy that included a whirlwind triple century against Maharashtra. He also hit the fastest Ranji Trophy century this year (48 balls) against Jharkhand in another fixture. He translated his good run of form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and then in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.
Pant is a hard hitting batsman who had played a few games for Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2016. However, given the red hot form that he is in, Pant is bound to be the trump card for his side in this edition of the tournament.
<h3>6. Kings XI Punjab &#8211; Marcus Stoinis</h3>
<figure id="attachment_67306" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67306" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Marcus-Stoinis-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-67306" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Marcus-Stoinis-1.jpg" alt="Marcus Stoinis Kings XI Punjab IPL 9" width="600" height="439" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-67306" class="wp-caption-text">Marcus Stoinis. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
The Kings XI Punjab have had two disappointing editions of the tournament in the previous two years. This year, they are set to play under the leadership of Glenn Maxwell. Many would believe that Maxwell would be the trump card for the franchise. Well, there is no denial of that fact.
However, the main man could well be another Australian all-rounder &#8211; Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis was the stand out performer for the Kings last year. This year, too, he will be in the starting eleven for the side. Stoinis recently clobbered the New Zealand side in an ODI fixture where he smashed an unbeaten 146, albeit in a losing cause.
Stoinis is a handy bowler too and had picked up a four wicket haul in the previous edition of the tournament. In the 34 T20s that he has played, he had picked 22 wickets with a strike rate as impressive as 16.9. He had 480 runs to his name with a strike rate of 115.94 and a top score of 52.
<h3>7. Kolkata Knight Riders &#8211; Manish Pandey</h3>
<figure id="attachment_18435" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-18435" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Manish-Pandey-kkr-e1491056927276.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-18435" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manish-Pandey-kkr-e1491056927276.jpg" alt="Manish Pandey" width="600" height="409"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-18435" class="wp-caption-text">Manish Pandey KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
When Manish Pandey had hit a magnificent 114 in the 2009 edition of the IPL, he had become an instant hit in Indian domestic circuit. Year after year, the India international has managed to mature more and has now become one of the senior most players in the two-time champions team Kolkata Knight Riders.
Pandey, who was the man of the match in the IPL 2014 finals, will hold the fort for the KKR batting this year. His batting in the top order with Robin Uthappa, combined with pyrotechniques of Yusuf Pathan down the order, can prove to be match winning formula for the Knights.
Pandey has played 89 matches for the KKR side and has been a heavy scorer. He has 1819 runs to his name at a strike rate of 118.42. With 7 fifties and a ton under his belt, he surely has been a revelation for Indian cricket in the history of the tournament.
<h3>8. Gujarat Lions &#8211; Suresh Raina</h3>
<figure id="attachment_68699" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68699" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/04/Suresh-Raina-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68699" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-1.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina, Gujarat Lions" width="600" height="436" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68699" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
The Gujarat Lions boasts of some very big names in their camp. All the players like Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, and new addition Jason Roy are proven match winners on a given day. They have been hampered by the injury of their in-form player Ravindra Jadeja who could have been their trump card. Now, with Jadeja being injured, the entire hopes will be on the swashbuckling out-of-favor candidate skipper Suresh Raina.
Raina needs no introduction when it comes to IPL cricket. He has been a phenomenal performer in the tournament history and boasts of a century in the tournament as well. When he was plying his trade for the Chennai Superkings, he had an astounding record of not skipping a game across the seasons. He had a lackluster IPL season last year when he captained the newbie Gujarat Lions. With 399 runs in 15 matches, he surely did have a quiet time with the bat.
However, his overall numbers in the T20 league are staggering. In the 147 matches that he has played, he has amassed 4098 runs at an average over 33 and has 28 fifties to his name to go with a ton. Moreover, what would make him work even harder is the stark fact that he was recently omitted from the Indian central contracts this year.

Here we have the team wise trump card of all the teams this season.

Trump Cards of each team in IPL 2017

The 2017 edition of the IPL is all set to get underway. Over the years, the most popular T20 league in the world has only got bigger and better with