Analyzing the diversity of foreign players in IPL 2020 squads

The preparations for the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League are finally underway. The 13th edition of the cash-rich league is set to light the stage on fire from September 19, 2020. However, because of various restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and other logistical issues, the current edition of the tourney will be held in the middle-eastern country of the United Arab Emirates.

Throughout the 12 years of the league since its inception in the year 2008, players from countries throughout the world have sought participation in the tournament. Though most of the players who have made an appearance on the grand stage are from full ICC member-nations like Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, etc.

Many players from associate nations like Netherlands, UAE and Nepal have also managed to be counted amongst the fortunate few to have represented an IPL franchise. Till date, players from 14 different nations including Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have landed IPL contracts in at least one season.

In this article, we will discuss the diversity of foreign players in each IPL squad for this year’s edition:

1. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Once home to the likes of players like Chris Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Jacques Kallis, and Mitchell Starc, the Bangalore based team has revamped their squad for the latest edition of the IPL, especially the foreign players. Once dependent upon the hard-hitting prowess of a Caribbean player to win matches, they don’t have any player from the West Indies this time around.

In their current squad, the Royal Challengers have a representation of players from 4 countries. Out of the 8 overseas players in their squad, 3 players are from Australia, 3 from South Africa and a single player each from England and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, RCB is one of the few teams to field an uncapped overseas player in their squad this year.

2. Chennai Super Kings

Over the last 12 years, Men in Yellow have developed a reputation of not tinkering much with their tried and tested set of players. Surely enough, even this year they made minimal changes to their squad and have again managed to retain their core set of players. The management has put faith in and retained 6 out of their 8 overseas players from the previous campaign in 2019.

The yellow army has representation from 5 countries (apart from India) in the tournament. With the majority of their players from South Africa, they will also field two Australians, an Englishman, a Kiwi and a Caribbean all-rounder.

3. Kings XI Punjab

Out of all the teams participating in the cash-rich league, Kings XI Punjab has bragging rights with respect to the diversity of foreign players in their squad. Once infamous for filling up their squad with only Australians and hardly giving chances to any other players, the Punjab based franchise has come a long way in appreciating players from other nations. The northern team retained half of their overseas players from the last season and changed the other half.

The Men in Red have players from 6 different countries representing their franchise. In this edition, players from West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England and South Africa will take the field for the Mohali based team.

4. Sunrisers Hyderabad

Unlike their fellow 2018 finalists, Sunrisers Hyderabad has a reputation for frequent yet successful experimentation with their squads. Despite having a different set of players every couple of seasons, they manage to tap their squad to its full potential and make the playoffs. However, this season they decided to retain the majority of their players and replaced only two players in the overseas department.

Like Chennai Super Kings, they have players from five different countries in their squad. During this edition, three players from the land Down Under, two players from Afghanistan and one player each from West Indies, England and New Zealand will represent the orange army.

5. Mumbai Indians

Undoubtedly, the defending champions have one of the most threatening squads of all the teams in the current edition of IPL. Their pace attack consisting of four quality seamers is a complete package. On the diversity front, they have players from five countries in their ranks.

With two players each from Australia, New Zealand and West Indies and a single player from Sri Lanka and South Africa, they boast of one of the more diverse squads in IPL 2020. Mumbai Indians, along with RCB are the only teams to field a player from Sri Lanka in their squad.

6. Delhi Capitals

The team with one of the most fluid and dynamic squads ever since the inaugural season also has a heterogeneous squad. The management of the Delhi based team has tried their hands at and let go of many players since 2008. Like Sunrisers, they are known for frequent experimentation with their squad albeit with a few unpleasant results.

For this season, the Capitals will be taking the cricket field with players from five countries. With two players each from England, Australia  and West and one player from South Africa and Nepal, they have one of the most unique squads in this edition. Interestingly, they will be the only team with a player from an associate nation in their squad.

7. Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders wowed many people with their extravagant buys in the IPL 2020 auction. Just like other teams, they retained the consistently performing players for the season and replaced others with the new and trending alternatives. They replaced half of their overseas department ahead of the latest edition of the franchise-based league.

The Bengal based team has players from four countries representing it during this season. Three players from England, two players each from Australia and West Indies, and a solitary player from New Zealand make up their squad.

8. Rajasthan Royals

The winners of the inaugural edition of the IPL have the least diverse squads of all the teams in IPL 2020. Despite attaining success in the initial years, they have struggled to qualify for the playoffs since and hence have been trying hard to get the right combination of players.

Finally, it seems that they have settled on a group of players, who are being backed extensively, and hence, we have started witnessing repetition in their squads over the years, just like the yellow army.

The Jaipur based franchise has representation from four countries in their squad. More than half of the overseas squad of the Rajasthan based team is from England with two players from Australia and one player each from South Africa and West Indies.