Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings have signed some of the best overseas players in T20 cricket for the UAE leg of IPL 2021.
After the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was suspended midway and postponed to September, the franchises were wary of the availability of the overseas players since the 25-day window finalised in September was in the middle of the international calendar.
Even though much international scheduling didn't take a hit, several players pulled out of the second phase of the IPL in the UAE, some due to personal reasons, while a few sustained injuries and the franchises had to look for replacements.
The most affected were the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) as they all had to sign at least three replacement players and have roped in some of the best players going around in the T20 format, whether in the franchise leagues or in international cricket.
Here are the five players, who could make their IPL debut in the remaining matches and could light up the league:
1. Tim David
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Singapore international Tim David after a successful season with Hobart Hurricanes has been lapped up by franchises around the world and the hard-hitter has lit up the various leagues from Pakistan Super League (PSL), The Hundred to the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and it was only matter of time before he got onto IPL franchises' radar.
New Zealand batsman Finn Allen had to pull out of the second phase of IPL due to international commitments and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) jumped on the opportunity and roped in David for the UAE leg and in the line-up consisting of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell, the 25-year old would enjoy playing with the RCB outfit.
2. Wanindu Hasaranga
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Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been one of the best spinners around the world in white-ball cricket but especially in T20Is and is currently the World No 2 bowler.
Since Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa pulled out from the UAE leg, RCB signed Hasaranga as his replacement and with Washington Sundar too ruled out of the second phase, the Sri Lankan all-rounder could get a place in the RCB side as he can also hit the long ball.
3. Aiden Markram
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South Africa batsman Aiden Markram too could make his IPL debut after being roped in by Punjab Kings as a replacement for Dawid Malan. Malan withdrew from the UAE leg of the IPL at the last minute due to personal reasons to spend time with his family before the T20 World Cup and the Ashes and the Kings signed Markram, who has been in fantastic form in T20Is for the Proteas not just with the bat, but with the ball too.
4. Glenn Phillips
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New Zealand explosive batsman, Glenn Phillips too will be making his debut in the IPL if he gets an opportunity in the playing XI as Rajasthan Royals signed him as the replacement for Jofra Archer, who was ruled out of cricket for the entire year due to his elbow injury. Phillips has impressed one and all with his ability to score quickly and can bat at any number in the order, providing flexibility to RR line-up.
5. Nathan Ellis
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It has been a few good weeks for emerging Australian pacer Nathan Ellis. Ellis after being picked in Australia's T20I squad for the West Indies and Bangladesh tours made his T20I debut against the latter and took a hat-trick. After his performance, Ellis got a call-up in the national team's squad for T20 World Cup as part of reserves and a few days later was signed as a replacement for Riley Meredith in the Punjab Kings squad, who pulled out from the UAE leg due to personal reasons.
