LLC 2024: Irfan Pathan, Shikhar Dhawan, and more – Players to watch in the tournament

The Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2024n kicks off on September 20, bringing together cricket's finest retired stars for a T20 tournament. This year's event features six star-studded teams playing across 25 matches in four Indian cities - Jodhpur, Surat, Jammu, and Srinagar.

The tournament will see the return of defending champions Manipal Tigers, alongside India Capitals, Gujarat Greats, Toyam Hyderabad, Southern Superstars, and the rebranded Konark Surya Odisha (formerly Bhilwara Kings). Each team will play seven league matches, with the top four advancing to the playoffs. The playoff stage will feature a Qualifier, Eliminator, and Semifinal, leading up to the grand finale on October 16 in Srinagar.

This season witnesses Indian Legends, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu, Dhawal Kulkarni, and Kedar Jadhav making their debut at the Legends League Cricket. Along with these names, other prominent names to feature in this year's tournament are Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Dhawal Kulkarni, amongst others.

Here are the top six players to watch out for in LLC 2024 series:

6. Isuru Udana:

The former Sri Lankan left-arm pacer Isuru Udana is set to feature in the league for the second time. The 36-year-old emerged as the most expensive player in the LLC auction 2024, with Urbanrisers Hyderabad securing his services for an impressive INR 61.97 lakh. The hefty price shows the high expectations around Udana's performance in the upcoming season. In the previous edition, representing India Capitals, Udana was brilliant with the ball, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with nine scalps in six matches at an impressive average of 21.22. 

Also Read: Legends League Cricket 2024 - Ambati Rayudu excited to uplift Odisha's cricketing culture

5. Ian Bell

The former England batter Ian Bell is all set to lead the India Capitals in the upcoming LLC. Following a season where the team reached the qualifiers under Gautam Gambhir's guidance, Bell will hope to get his hands on the coveted title. The right-handed genius brings a wealth of experience to the role, having recently played in the World Championship of Legends 2024. In that competition, Bell smashed 230 runs across five innings, at an average of 76.66, and finished as the tournament's second-highest run-scorer. The 42-year-old will be hoping to do the same in this tournament.