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IPL 2020: Five First-Timers To Watch Out For

By Pragya Gouhari -
  • Updated
  • :
  • 19th September 2020,
  • 9:28 PM

Tom Banton, Yashavsi Jaiswal, Daniel Sams, Chris Green and Josh Philippe aren’t sure starters for their IPL franchises, but keep an eye out.

TOM BANTON (KKR) : Tom Banton, 21, was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders at last December’s IPL player auction on the basis of his exploits in English domestic cricket and his elevation to England’s white-ball squads at such a young age. The Somerset batsman then went to the BBL where in seven matches he scored 223 at a strike-rate of 176.98, which underlined his talent further.

Banton’s success for England across 15 limited-overs matches has not been outstanding, but he’s clearly a talent for the long run. During the 2019-20 Vitality Blast, he smashed 549 runs at a strike-rate of 161.47, which is the kind of success KKR will hope Banton will deliver in the UAE.

YASHASVI JAISWAL (RR) : Yashavi Jaiswal fits into that bracket of supremely talented young Indian batsmen, of which there have been many entrants. He finished this year’s Under-19 World Cup as the leading run-scorer with 400 at 133.3 from six innings, and in 13 List A matches he has racked up six scores of 50-plus while averaging 70.81. This run of form includes a score of 203, mind you, to make him India’s youngest double-centurion in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

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DANIEL SAMS (DELHI CAPITALS) : A left-arm pace bowler capable with the bat as well, Daniel Sams finished the 2019-20 BBL as the leading wicket-taker with 30 at 15.36 apiece, a tournament record. He went wicketless just twice in 14 matches, and his clever use of the slower ball saw him dupe several batsmen.

Last month, Sams was named in Australia’s ODI and T20I squads for the ongoing tour of England, though he has not played any game so far. He joins a Delhi Capitals squad already boasting Kagiso Rabada, Marcus Stoinis, Anrich Nortje and Keemo Paul, so Sams looks a doubtful starter. But given his slow-ball skill and big-hitting ability, he might just edge out Paul and Nortje somewhere down the line in IPL 2020, especially on those UAE pitches.

CHRIS GREEN (KKR) : Australian spin-bowling allrounder Chris Green was purchased by KKR at last year’s auction, but not long after came news that he had been banned from bowling for 90 days after he was cited for a suspect action in a BBL match. He was cleared to bowl in June, and now heads into his maiden IPL stint refreshed and with a successful CV to show for.

A bowler in the mould of KKR team-mate Narine, offspinner Green is adept at opening the bowling and keeping runs down during the Powerplay overs. The 26-year-old from New South Wales has also played in T20 leagues in England’s Vitality Blast, the CPL, PSL and Global T20 Canada.

JOSH PHILIPPE (RCB) : Josh Philippe, one of the rising stars of Australian cricket, helped Sydney Sixers to the BBL title earlier this year and was Player of the Final. He is part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for this week’s IPL 2020 in the UAE, adding skill to a strong batting unit.

With Aaron Finch already in the RCB squad, how Philippe fits in as an opener is tough to envision. But given his talent as a batsman and wicketkeeper, he gets a chance if RCB look to shake things up.

RAVI BISHNOI,KINGS XI PUNJAB : A modern-day leg spinner who prefers his googly to the traditional leg break, Bishnoi was the leading wicket-taker at the 2020 U-19 World Cup, collecting 17 scalps in six games at an average of 10.64. He admires Rashid Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal, and his fast run-up allows him to get extra zip and bounce. It will help Bishnoi, still just 20, that Kings XI Punjab’s head coach is Anil Kumble, the former Indian leg spinner. Bishnoi recently said he had been learning to bowl the flipper from Kumble.

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