Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
3 England players to watch out for in IPL 2021 | 3 England players looking to make a mark in IPL 2021 ahead of World T20 2021
For so long a bone of contention in English cricket, the IPL has now been embraced by players and management alike. With 14 players set to descend upon the 2021 tournament, it will represent the largest contingent from English shores. In a T20 World Cup year, each player will hope to use the tournament to improve in Indian conditions and make a case for selection into what is a highly competitive England team.
Having arrived late to the IPL party, England’s players haven’t yet earned the legend status achieved by some of their counterparts from Australia, South Africa and the West Indies. However, since England’s IPL trailblazer – Kevin Pietersen – Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer have come the closest to doing so. Both are superstar players in the format and integral to England’s chances in the World T20 later this year. You’d be brave to bet against them starring in this year’s IPL. But who are the other England players who could play a big role for their franchises this year? We take a look below.
Moeen Ali
A T20 league veteran, Moeen Ali seems to be in demand by every T20 team in the world except for England, as he has played only 12 of their last 36 matches in the format. Moeen joins a CSK side seeking to banish memories of a poor 2020 campaign which saw the three-time champions finish seventh. They will be hoping that the hard-hitting Moeen can help remedy the batting woes which plagued that campaign. While often reduced to a bit-part player with the bat for England – whose powerful top order means he generally faces only a handful of balls – his domestic T20 record makes him hot property in the format.
CSK may be tempted to open with Moeen as an explosive hitter to accompany the right-handed Ruturaj Gaikwad, who ended last year’s tournament with three back-to-back half centuries. In his last two T20 Blast campaigns, Moeen has struck his runs at a strike rate in excess of 170 runs per 100 balls, while averaging 73 and 41. Given a chance to bat up the order domestically, Moeen excels. In 2020 CSK had the second worst run rate in the powerplay (7.13) and Moeen’s ability to effortlessly hit over the top makes him an attractive candidate to exploit the powerplay fielding restrictions.
Alternatively, CSK may be tempted to use Moeen in the middle order. Overs 7-10 are typically where scoring rates dip as spinners begin to operate and CSK were a prime example of this last season, scoring at a mere 6.5 runs per over during this period. Moeen has a reputation for being a spin basher and an IPL career strike rate of 175 in the middle overs makes him an ideal candidate to remedy CSK’s struggles in this phase.
However CSK choose to use Moeen, he provides versatility with the bat and his defensive off-spin bowling can also add variety to their attack.
Ben Stokes
Despite flashes of brilliance during the recent T20I series, it is clear England still aren’t getting the most out of their premier all-rounder in the shortest format. Stokes has never looked at ease in the finisher role but, despite a widespread feeling that he is best utilised at the top of the order, that move has not yet transpired due to England’s abundance of options there. However, in what was an otherwise disappointing 2020 campaign for the Rajasthan Royals, the decision to open with Stokes in the latter half of the tournament paid dividends. Stokes struck two belligerent 40s and a magnificent century against a Mumbai Indians attack containing Bumrah, Boult and Pattinson.
In an IPL career that has been either feast or famine – Stokes failed to register a single 50 in the 2018 and 2019 tournaments – his best performances with the bat have transpired when coming to the crease inside the powerplay. In IPL 2017, Stokes batted at No 5 for the Rising Pune Supergiants but, coming to the crease early at 10-3, struck an imperious 103* against the Gujarat Lions.
In this year’s edition Stokes is likely to accompany England teammate, Jos Buttler, in what will be one of the tournament’s most dynamic opening partnerships. While his batting has struggled at times in the middle overs against spin and on turgid pitches, you would back Stokes to find his A-game taking on the newer ball in the powerplay. Expect a big tournament from England’s talismanic all-rounder.
Sam Curran
Another England player who has had a limited role in the national team of late but is expected to play a key role for his franchise. CSK’s star of the 2020 tournament is also finding form at the right time, with his unbeaten 95 in the final ODI against India drawing comparisons to his IPL captain, Dhoni.
His 13 IPL wickets last season and versatility with the bat – providing shock value as a hard hitting floater – make him a valuable asset to CSK. He will play a key role in 2021 as they look to revamp an ageing team that failed to make the playoffs last year for the first time in their history.
While Curran was anonymous at times during the recent India T20I series – he bowled 10 out of a possible 20 overs and was seldom required with the bat – the wily Dhoni knows how to get the most out of this exciting talent. Curran’s bustling left arm seamers proved highly economical last year – he was CSK’s least expensive bowler in the powerplay, going at under 7 runs per over.
Given responsibility up the order with the bat, Curran won the tournament opener against the Mumbai Indians last year before providing another match winning knock as an opener against the Sunrisers. Throw in the fact that he has a point to prove ahead of the World Cup, after struggling to impose himself in the recent T20I series, and you wouldn’t bet against the England all-rounder making a big mark once again.
Written by Adam Sutherland. Follow Adam on Twitter today.
