IPL 2020: 5 first-time overseas buys to watch out for in upcoming IPL season

Here are the five must-watch first-time foreign players in IPL 2020.

The IPL 2020 season will see some of the most talented performers in the cricketing world play in front of perhaps the most cricket crazy fans in the world. The auctions saw many franchises splurge money on some of the best and newest talents in the world cricket.

IPL 2020: All matches to start 7.30 pm onwards; final on May 24, as per reports

This time, TEAM COC will take a look at five of the best foreign players that have been bought by different teams in the auction that fetched some amazing prices during the bidding process. Franchises often go for overseas players with something different than what local players offer. Therefore, foreigners are in more demand and we take a look at five such newest buys who will play in the IPL for the first time.    

Here are the 5 first-time buys to watch out for in upcoming IPL season

JOSH PHILIPPE (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Josh Phillippe may not be a big name at the moment in cricket, but the 22-year-old Western Australian has made quite a name for himself in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers. Royal Challengers Bangalore got him for his base price and though it seems innocuous for many, but is actually a pretty clever buy.

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Phillippe is known for his acumen to play spinners in Australia and given the Bengaluru pitch which is conducive to spin, his expertise might come in very handy. Plus, he opens the batting while keeping wickets; meaning that his expertise leaves a place empty for another player in the XI. It leaves to be seen whether he gets chances to play for RCB, but when he gets, be sure to see something special from him.

ALEX CAREY (Delhi Capitals)

Australia’s next best prospect with gloves and already primed to take over from Tim Paine in Test matches as well, Alex Carey has been amazing for the Kangaroos for quite some time now. The 28-year-old has already played 29 ODIs and 25 T20Is for Australia and made 929 runs with four fifties in ODIs. In T20 cricket, he plays for Adelaide Strikers in BBL, while representing South Australia in domestic cricket.

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Carey is an exceptional wicketkeeper and a batsman capable of opening the innings and bat anywhere in top order. Though not a big hitter of the ball, he has shots in his arsenal to hit sixes and fours; Carey is also an exceptional player of spinners. Carey may not get many chances in Delhi Capitals with Rishabh Pant being the first-choice keeper, but if utilized as a batsman only,  he can contribute more to the team.

ISURU UDANA (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Isuru Udana had made his T20I debut in 2009 and has made a comeback to the Sri Lankan team in limited-overs cricket and performed admirably well. The Balangoda-born left-arm pacer has been in demand in various T20 leagues all over the world, given he possesses all the variations needed to succeed.

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RCB bought Udana for his base price of INR 50 lakhs and his experience will be very effective for Virat Kohli and his team given that they have lacked that factor in their fast bowling attack, where they have pace and fire, but no direction and hence have failed to defend totals of even 200 at home. Udana’s experience along with the pace of Siraj and Navdeep might bring out the best out of the team.

SHELDON COTTRELL (Kings XI Punjab)

West Indian Sheldon Cottrell is famous for his salute celebration and ability to swing the new ball at the start with the new ball. The 30-year-old left-armer has been amazing with his best performances coming in World Cup 2019 and his wicket celebration has made him a hit amongst the populace especially the children.

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Cottrell will get help from the Mohali wicket, which has a tinge of green on it and offers seam movement as well. The KXIP team has brought him in to replace Sam Curran, given that Cottrell has more pace than Curran and can move the ball in the air and off the pitch, troubling the batsmen looking to take advantage of the power play.

TOM BANTON (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Tom Banton was a rage before the IPL auction thanks to his exploits in the Vitality T20 Blast and for the Big Bash League in Australia. However, when his name came up for bidding, only Kolkata Knight Riders were the only franchise to bid on him and got him for his base price of INR 1 crore. This was mainly because all of the other franchises had filled slots in top order and Banton’s name came late in the auction.

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He has 815 runs in 26 T20 matches with one century and a strike rate of 159.49. This hitting ability has given KKR an apt replacement for Chris Lynn at the top, while Banton also doesn’t have any issues with his fitness or form. A great pick by the franchise in every form.