IPL 2021: Ranking all 8 teams based on overseas players

After a highly volatile IPL 2021 auction on the 18th of February, the teams are now ready with their entire squad list. Teams like RCB and PBKS, who had a big remaining purse, were active participants in the proceedings. All in all, it was an interesting auction with several new names getting IPL contracts. However, over the years there have teams who have been consistently performing well in the IPL. These teams, like MI and CSK, have had squads with all bases covered. They have the perfect blend of Indian, foreign, and uncapped players. Since each team can play only four overseas players in their playing XI, their stature grows even more. To have the best of foreign players with appropriate roles assigned to them is very important for an IPL team. So, here we analyse and rank all 8 teams based on their overseas players’ strength for IPL 2021: 8) Chennai Super Kings Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The Super Kings are ranked at the bottom in this criterion of squad strength. They did not have a good season last time and were the first team to be knocked out from the playoffs race. Apart from two or three players, others had an off-season last time. Their existing foreign player contingent consists of Faf du Plessis, Sam Curran, Lungi Ngidi, and Josh Hazlewood among others. In the auction, they secured the hefty buy of Moeen Ali and also went to quite an extent for Glenn Maxwell but could not get him. Thus, their overseas bunch still looks a bit weak. CSK will be keen to turnaround their performance from last year and put up a better show. For this, their foreign players will have a role to play. CSK will hope for them to fire together and fulfill their assigned roles. 7) Delhi Capitals Delhi Capitals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The Capitals had a fantastic season last year, reaching their first IPL final. They had several players contributing to the performance and not just a single player. They will be looking to repeat these performances this season too. Last season their main overseas players were Kagiso Rabada, Marcus Stoinis, and surprise package Anrich Nortje. Rabada was in prime form and was the Purple Cap winner of the season. In the auction this time, they have picked two wonderful batsmen, Steve Smith, and Sam Billings. They have also got a decent all-round choice in Tom Curran. Like MI, even DC depends more on the Indian core more and thus are ranked seven. But their squad looks even better this time. They will be looking to go one step further this time and win their first IPL trophy. 6) Mumbai Indians Trent Boult of Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Mumbai are the most successful franchise in the history of the league. There are a variety of reasons for the same. But the main reason being not depending on few players, and focusing on the entire team effort. After leaving out their entire fast bowling core, they bought a new set comprising Adam Milne, Nathan Coulter Nile, and all-rounder James Neesham. They already had the likes of Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, and Chris Lynn in their squad. These players add a lot of value to the squad mixture. MI have been ranked sixth as they have depended more on their Indian core over the years for their success. They don’t have many big names, but rather impact players in their foreign list. No doubt, they are the most successful team in the IPL history. 5) Kolkata Knight Riders Kolkata Knight Riders. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Next, we rank Kolkata in this aspect of overseas strength. They had a topsy turvy season last time, the main reason being overdependence on few players. Thus, they have tried to add variety to their squad. Their two foreign buys in the season are all-rounder Ben Cutting and veteran Shakib Al Hasan. They have tried to address the burden on Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. They also have speedster Pat Cummins and Eoin Morgan on their overseas list. All in all, this makes up a solid bunch of foreigners. If these players unleash their full potential, they can create havoc in the tournament. KKR will be hoping for them to fire. 4) Punjab Kings Kings XI Punjab. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The Kings had the largest purse to spend in the mini-auction. Thus, they also had the liberty to go for some big players without worrying about the budget. They did justice to their big budget to quite an extent as they picked some good players. They cracked a steal deal for the number one ranked T20I batsman, Dawid Malan, getting him at his base price of 1.5 crores. They also went for some heavy buys such as Jhye Richardson- INR 14 crores, and uncapped Australian Riley Meredith- INR 8 crores. Along with these, they got two handy all-rounders in Moises Henriques and Fabien Allen. To add to the new buys, they already have the likes of T20 legend Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, and Chris Jordan in their squads. Thus, they prove to be a healthy foreign squad with a good balance. They will look to capitalise this season on their strengths. 3) Sunrisers Hyderabad Sunrisers Hyderabad. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) We have the Sunrisers as number three in these rankings. The Orange Army were already a set squad before the mini-auction. They have a good mix of players with several global superstars. Apart from the big three batsmen, i.e., David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, and Kane Williamson they also have the Afghani wrist-spinner, Rashid Khan in their squad. They also have wonderful all-rounders like Jason Holder and Mitchell Marsh to add firepower. They filled their only overseas slot with Mujeeb ur Rahman, further consolidating their spin department. Thus, without being busy buyers in the auction SRH have a wonderful set of foreign players. Together with the Indian players they make up a strong squad and will look to continue their dream run in the IPL. 2) Royal Challengers Bangalore Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) RCB have not lifted the trophy cabinet yet, but their efforts have been top-notch every time. Their major concern has been bowling and overdependence on AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. But this time they have tried to address these issues in the auction. They have gone for 2 hefty overseas buys in Glenn Maxwell and Kyle Jamieson, both accounting for a total near 30 crores! They have also gone for Daniel Christian, an experienced all-rounder. Apart from these new buys, they already have the likes of Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, and the omnipresent AB de Villiers. Thus, RCB’s overseas players’ quality looks really great and ready to fire. They can definitely surpass most of the teams in this very aspect of squad strength. They look set for a decent IPL season. 1. Rajasthan Royals Rajasthan Royals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Over the past few years, the Royals have the best of foreign players on their roster. Although they released Steve Smith this season, they still have quite a few big foreign players in their squad. In this auction, they have even added newer and even better overseas players to their team. They made headlines by picking Chris Morris, the most expensive ever in the IPL for 16.25 crores. They also added handy T20 players like Liam Livingstone and Mustafizur Rahman. Apart from these new buys, they already have Ben Stokes, the best modern-day all-rounder, Jos Buttler, excellent T20 batsman and keeper, and Jofra Archer, one of the best T20 bowlers. This is some serious foreign player strength. Although they have not had much success recently, partly because these players have not performed to their best of abilities and form, and also sometimes they have not got enough support from Indian colleagues. If all these players fire in tandem along with perfect team management, they can go very far in the tournament.

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IPL 2021: Ranking all 8 teams based on overseas players

To have the best of foreign players with appropriate roles assigned to them is very important for an IPL team.

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