IPL 2020: 5 overseas debutants to watch out for in IPL 13

The IPL 2020 begins from September 19.

The 13^th edition of the Indian Premier League or IPL 2020 will begin from September 19 onwards, with Chennai Super Kings taking on Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener in Abu Dhabi.

The IPL tournament has always attracted the best of the best players from all over the world, who have chosen to be part of this extravaganza over many other T20 competitions. From the likes of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, and Sanath Jayasuriya to modern superstars like Jos Buttler, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and others, all have preferred to play in IPL atleast once.

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Similarly, in the IPL 13 as well, we will see some of the best young and brilliant foreign talent showcasing their abilities in front of a global audience watching at home. For many foreign players, this will be their first time experiencing the glitz of the Indian Premier League, an experience that has left many of previous players in awe.

Team COC, therefore, picks five such overseas debutants, who will make their first wave in the upcoming IPL 2020.

Check out the 5 overseas debutants to watch out for in IPL

CHRIS GREEN (KKR)

Chris Green was bought by the KKR franchise in the IPL 2020 auction for his base price of INR 20 lakhs. Green has been one of the finest new talents that emerged from the Big Bash League in Australia, where he plays for Sydney Thunder.

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He recently captained the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL 2020 and has turned out in PSL as well. Green is a right-arm off-spinner and capable batsman as well. He was picked as a backup of Sunil Narine if he breaks down or is given a rest. Green has 74 wickets in 93 T20s at an economy of 6.64. It remains to be seen whether KKR gives him a game or two, as their overseas slots are filled with Narine, Russell, Morgan, and Cummins in the side.

FABIEN ALLEN (SRH)

25-year-old Fabien Allen will expect to get a game or two with the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, given his specialty as a finisher and can bowl handy left-arm spin as well. Allen has played 14 ODIs and 13 T20Is for the West Indies team and boasts of a strike rate of 164.89 in T20 cricket.  

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Allen was picked by SRH to compensate for Shakib Al Hasan, who will miss IPL 2020 due to his ongoing one-year ban. Like Shakib, Allen is capable of contributing big time with either the bat or the ball and is a brilliant fielder as well, giving David Warner some needed flexibility in the lineup.

ALI KHAN (KKR)

Fast bowler Ali Khan became the first player from the United States of America to be included in an IPL franchise when KKR brought him in to replace the injured Harry Gurney of England. Ali Khan has been making quite a noise with his performances in the CPL, the PSL, and the Global T20 Canada tournament.

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Dwayne Bravo had seen him bowl in Canada and brought him into CPL, wherein the 2020 edition, he helped the TKR team win the tournament for the fourth time. Khan is a skilled pacer, known for his picture-perfect yorkers and will look for an opportunity to showcase his skills and speed.

SHELDON COTTRELL (KXIP)

The man with one of the best wicket celebrations in cricket at the moment, Jamaica’s Sheldon Cottrell with be turning out for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2020. Looking for a decent overseas pacer to boost their Indian bowling contingent, the Punjab side settled for Cottrell, thanks to his ability to swing the new ball.

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Cottrell has enough experience in T20s, picking 128 wickets in 95 games at an economy of 7.47. He also has a very good yorker and change of pace to fool the batsmen into committing a mistake whenever he comes onto bowl. He will give Mohammad Shami some much-needed assistance from the other end, as KXIP looks to replicate their success from the 2014 edition of IPL.  

TOM BANTON (KKR)

England’s Tom Banton has made quite a noise for his explosive batting abilities in the T20 format. He was the main attraction of the IPL 2020 auction but was picked by KKR for his base price of INR 1 crore, as his name came quite late in the auction.

He enhanced his reputation as a destructive keeper-batsman during the last BBL season where he played some eye-watering shots for the Brisbane Heat side. He recently made his international debut for England and has done enough for KKR to bring him into the playing XI to replace Chris Lynn.

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With an impressive strike rate of 158.94, including a high score of 100, Banton boasts an average of 31 in 32 T20s across his young career and is a bonafide star in making. He is also a good choice to keep wickets for KKR, though that job is safe with skipper Dinesh Karthik. But it will be with the bat, that Banton will be expected to make an impression.