5 IPL 2021 stars to watch out for in CPL 2021

The 2021 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is less than three months away. After a lot of speculations, it was decided that the tournament will be played in its entirety from August 28 to September 19 and all 33 matches will take place at the Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis.

Before action kicks off, the players’ draft took place on Friday, May 28 and all the six squads were released. A number of star players, including Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wanindu Hasaranga, Rassie van der Dussen, and many others will be a part of the tournament.

Moreover, a few cricketers, who took part in the first leg of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), will be on show. After doing well in the tournament in India, their CPL franchises will be hoping for them to fire on all cylinders.

Here are five IPL 2021 stars to watch out for in CPL 2021:

1. Andre Russell- Jamaica Tallawahs

Andre Russell has been playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs ever since he made his CPL debut in 2013. In 66 matches thus far, the right-hander has hammered 1331 runs at an average and strike rate of 32.46 and 173.08 respectively. He also has two tons against the Trinbago Knight Riders and a hat-trick.

With the ball, the Jamaican has picked up 58 wickets, though at an economy rate of 8.49. In the 2020 edition, he had a quiet start but made amends as he notched 222 runs and also had the highest average, 44.40, for the Tallawahs.

In the 2021 IPL, Dre-Russ looked a tad off colour, albeit he scored a quick-fire half-century against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The 33-year-old played at a strike of above 155. It remains to be seen how he does for the Tallawahs in the upcoming CPL edition.

2. Kieron Pollard- Trinbago Knight Riders

Kieron Pollard was in scintillating form for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the previous CPL edition. His highest score of 72 came against the Jason Holder-led Barbados Tridents at a time when TKR needed around 17 runs per over from their last four overs.

The fact that he played at a strike rate of 204.95 in the popular T20 tournament showed his ferocity. The 34-year-old smacked nine fours and as many as 20 sixes. He is only 34 runs short of becoming the fourth batter after Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, and Andre Fletcher to accomplish 2,000 CPL runs.

In the 2021 IPL, he was the vice-captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) and also led his team in Rohit Sharma’s absence. After scoring 168 runs and playing the game-changing knock of 87* against CSK, Pollard will be aiming to replicate something similar in the CPL as well.

3. Anrich Nortje- St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Anrich Nortje came to the fore after the Mzansi Super League where he played for the Cape Town Blitz. The speedster, thereafter, earned a call to the South Africa national team as well. To add delight to his joy, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) roped him in for the 2019 IPL edition, but he missed out due to injury.

In 2020, Delhi Capitals (DC) picked him up as a replacement for England cricketer Chris Woakes. The decision paid dividends as he picked up 22 wickets and ruffled a few feathers along with his Proteas teammate, Kagiso Rabada. In 2021, he has had to warm the bench thus far.

Nortje is known for clocking in excess of 150 kmph on a consistent basis. For the 2021 CPL, he has been picked to play for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and he will have Sheldon Cottrell and Rayad Emrit for a company in the pace bowling department.

4. Chris Morris- Barbados Tridents

Chris Morris, the South Africa all-rounder, has loads of experience under his belt. Having played 230 matches, it’s more than a decade of cricket that he has played in the T20 format. Moreover, with 1849 runs and 289 wickets in his kitty, he is one of the sought-after players in global domestic tournaments.

The 34-year-old managed to bag a contract from the Barbados Tridents in the 2021 CPL. In the pace department, he will have Mohammad Amir, Jason Holder, Oshane Thomas, and Raymon Reifer for company.

As far as his IPL exploits are concerned, in the 2021 edition, Rajasthan Royals (RR) bagged him at a stunning price of 16.5 crores. He didn’t disappoint as he has scored 48 runs and picked up 14 wickets. The Tridents will be hoping that he puts forth all-round shows even in the CPL.

5. Shakib Al Hasan- Jamaica Tallawahs

Shakib Al Hasan made an impact in the 2013 CPL as he picked up a six-wicket haul, conceding only six runs in his four overs. Eight years down the line, it remains as the only six-fer and the best ever bowling figures in the history of the T20 tournament.

The Magura-born achieved the feat while playing for the Tridents against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, now Trinbago Knight Riders. In 2019, he played for the Barbados Tridents on the road to their second title. In 30 CPL matches, Shakib has notched 354 runs with a top score of an unbeaten 54 and picked up 29 wickets.

In the 2021 IPL, he wasn’t in the greatest of forms for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and was benched eventually. In the Tallawahs, Shakib is likely to partner with Qais Ahmed and Veerasammy Permaul in the spin department.