West Indians in the IPL

As all eyes turn to the IPL we set targets for the West Indians in this years edition.

Throughout the IPL’s history, the West Indian T20 stalwarts have been draw cards for their respective franchises and have consistently lit up the tournament. This years edition is set to be no different as 12 men from the Caribbean will be spread across the 8 franchise teams.

With a T20 world cup set to take place a year from now, in India, this years IPL takes on even more significance. The West Indies will head to the World Cup as defending champions but several of the IPL stars will be looking to ensure their performance render them undroppable in the Maroon.

Karthikeya Manchala take a look at what each player has to prove in this years IPL.

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Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Over the last two seasons, KKR has been synonymous with Andre Russell. He has carried the weight of an entire franchise on his shoulders with others around him underperforming. While he won’t have the crowd’s raucous cheers behind him as he enters the crease this year, he remains the face of the franchise.

Russell achieved the rare feat of being his team’s leading run scorer and wicket taker last year and while he will be expected to replicate his heroics with the bat, it is unclear how many overs he will bowl. Given his history of knee injuries, Russell’s workload management will be a key aspect to follow for West Indian supporters and selectors.

As for his batting role, KKR batting coach David Hussey has indicated Russell could bat higher up the order with the addition of Eoin Morgan as a finisher. This means Russell’s role will be similar to that in the West Indies team with Kieron Pollard and Fabian Allen below him. However, one thing is certain - no matter where Russell bats, the sixes will follow.

Chris Gayle (Kings XI Punjab)

On the cusp of turning 41, Gayle will be part of his first T20 assignment since the Bangladesh Premier League in January. Having joined the KXIP training camp well in advance, Gayle would have had a chance to shake off the rust and get himself in shape to resume his opening partnership with KL Rahul. 

That being said, Gayle’s pre-lockdown form doesn’t necessarily warrant him a spot in the starting XI. With KXIP stocked with overseas batting in the form of Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell, omitting Gayle might be necessary to balance their team.

Gayle’s concurrent role in the team is to act as a mentor for budding T20 talent like Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan and Mayank Agarwal. It is also no secret that the brand value he adds to KXIP is immense. That isn’t to say Gayle won’t have personal targets for himself. If Gayle grabs his chances and makes a big score, no one can dare to drop him. Not even the West Indies.

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Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings)

Despite his waning form for CSK, Bravo earned a West Indies return in January. Undoubtedly, this led to the critics claiming that his selection was down to his friendship with captain Pollard rather than his performances.

On the back of a solid CPL performance, Bravo will want to continue his death bowling form at CSK who lack experience in their pace department. With a depleted batting lineup due to COVID scares in the CSK camp, Bravo might even get a chance to bat higher up the order. The only concern will be the minor injury he picked up before the CPL final and whether he has sufficiently recovered to play the first week of the IPL.

If Bravo has a strong IPL, no one can criticize his West Indies selection. He is the second most experienced T20 player in the world and is one of the few bowlers in the Caribbean to have mastered the difficult art of death bowling. 

Fabian Allen (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Following in the footsteps of Gayle and Russell, Allen might become the latest Jamaican MVP in the IPL. But here’s the catch. When Allen was picked up in the auction, it was always clear it was going to be a straight shootout between him and Mohammad Nabi in the playing XI.

With Allen unfortunately missing the CPL and Nabi putting in a monumental performance, it is unlikely Allen finds a place in the starting XI. It is important, however, that Allen stays on his feet and grabs any opportunity that comes his way. In a two-month long tournament, there is a good chance some players will be rotated or rested, and his reputation means he’d be a first choice backup.

Even if Allen does not get much game time, he has arguably nailed down a spot in the West Indies starting XI for the World Cup. He should see this as an avenue to sharpen his skills and understand what it is like to exchange knowledge with overseas stars like David Warner and Kane Williamson.

Keemo Paul (Delhi Capitals)

After earning a consistent run towards the end of last season, Paul was retained by Delhi for 2020 on the back of his performances on slow pitches. His assortment of cutters and yorkers have convinced experts that he’s DJ Bravo’s natural successor.

However, given Delhi’s odd team construction it is unclear whether Paul is going to compete for the batting allrounder slot at #6 or the bowling allrounder slot at #7. It may be argued that he is currently more suited to being a #7 and batting at #6 might be too big a step up in a quality tournament like the IPL.

As for his personal goals, Paul showed promising signs in the CPL by improving the accuracy of his yorker and adding a bouncer to his repertoire. If he carries this into the IPL, he can strengthen his chances of making a West Indies first XI alongside or possibly instead of Bravo rather than being seen as his backup.

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Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

Pollard was the best batsman in the CPL by a distance which is exciting news for Mumbai. He has been a part of the MI family since his breakout year in 2010 and is now an indispensable member of their team.

With Pollard now the West Indies captain - the pinnacle for any cricketer, he has little to prove to anyone. He is the MI’s designated finisher and has already been a mentor for younger talent like the Pandya brothers. It may seem like Pollard has done it all, but he sets himself high standards. With another MVP season, he can add to his legacy by showing his longevity.

Nicholas Pooran (Kings XI Punjab)

Towards the end of last season, Pooran embarrassed the KXIP think-tank by displaying his relentless hitting ability after being excluded for a declining David Miller for the majority of the tournament. KXIP would be foolish not to play him at #4, let alone start in every game.

It is no surprise that Pooran’s rapid development continued after the 2019 IPL to an extent that he is now one of the most integral batsmen in the West Indies white ball teams. He has shown he can construct big innings and go into overdrive against spin when necessary. A full season at #4 in a strong KXIP lineup will be the perfect trial run for him ahead of the 2021 World Cup.

If there is anything Pooran can work on, it is his ability to play rising short balls. Analysts will know this is a weakness now that it is his second proper IPL season. While his talent suggests this should not be a major obstacle, it is worth keeping an eye out for how he deals with it.

Oshane Thomas (Rajasthan Royals)

The career graph of Oshane Thomas over the last year has been disappointing. After a decent showing in the latter half of the 2019 IPL, Thomas has shown very limited signs of development. In the CPL, his size and apparent poor fitness were as concerning as his erratic bowling.

Thomas will not have given up on his World Cup hopes given he is still the fastest bowler in the Caribbean. It is hoped that being part of a high performance environment at the IPL will be the tonic he needs. This should be his primary goal because he does not merit a spot in the starting XI, especially in a team that already features Jofra Archer.

Sheldon Cottrell (Kings XI Punjab)

Cottrell will earn one of the biggest paychecks for a West Indian first timer in the IPL. One could argue an IPL contract was overdue as he has been West Indies best white ball seamer over the last two years. He had a rough CPL, but a change in environment from the worst CPL team to a motivated IPL team will be a welcome transition.

Cottrell’s point of difference is his slingy left arm angle which allows him to extract swing at pace with the new ball. Given his price tag and the fact that KXIP had one of the poorest powerplay stats with the ball in 2019, there is a decent chance he makes the playing XI. Furthermore, he will have an opportunity to prove his versatility outside the powerplay as well considering bowling is KXIP’s weaker suit.

Being one of the incumbents for the pace bowling berth in the West Indies T20 team, it is Cottrell’s spot to lose. Anything around the vicinity of a decent performance should guarantee his ticket to the 2021 World Cup because of the unique value he offers.

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Sherfane Rutherford (Mumbai Indians)

After an impressive performance for Delhi in 2019, Rutherford was part of one of the few trades in the IPL and will now represent Mumbai. Since the 2019 IPL, however, Rutherford’s career has only gone downhill and was even dropped for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL.

One might claim Rutherford was unlucky as he was forced into becoming a finisher when he’s actually a natural opener. However, even if this dip in form can be turned around, breaking into a team featuring Pollard, Quinton de Kock and Chris Lynn is close to impossible. 

Like Thomas and Allen, Rutherford should use this as an opportunity to work in a high performance environment and develop his game. MI are the most successful IPL team and are known for nurturing young talent and backing them, so he is definitely in safe hands.

When does untapped potential become wasted talent?

Shimron Hetmyer (Delhi Capitals)

After being released by RCB, Hetmyer will be Delhi’s third Guyanese player in two years. He had an underwhelming season last year, but a change in team and a consistent run at a fixed position might be the catalyst to unlock his full potential.

The most exciting aspect of his IPL will be his partnership with Rishabh Pant in the middle order. Just like Hetmyer, Pant is an ultra talented left hander who dominates domestic cricket and is finding his way in the international scene. If they are given full license around the anchors in the team, it could mean fireworks.

While it might seem obvious that he is a lock in the first choice West Indies T20 team, Hetmyer himself has admitted he needs to perform more consistently. The Delhi side, under Ricky Ponting, highly values fitness, so if he gets in shape and contributes with the bat, he will face less scrutiny and pressure in the West Indies team.

Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)

After winning the CPL title for the Trinbago Knight Riders, Narine will rejoin the sister franchise in the IPL in an attempt to complete the double. Narine, arguably the franchise’s all-time MVP, has been in Russell’s shadow the last two years.

If he is fit to start the tournament, Narine is likely to continue his role as a pinch hitter in the powerplay. His wicket taking ability off late has taken a dip with KKR’s home pitch at Eden Gardens having been relaid to suit the seamers. The switch to the slow, low surfaces at UAE will be a change he will be excited about.

A fit Narine walks into the West Indies team, so the only question is whether he is confident to use his complete assortment of variations. He has been using carrom balls more sparingly in IPL and international cricket as opposed to the CPL with his bowling action in the limelight in bigger tournaments. Meanwhile, if he continues his success as a pinch hitter, he can potentially stake a claim for an opening spot in the World Cup. 

The missing names

Devastating opener Evin Lewis will not feature this year after a fallout of sorts with MI coach Mahela Jayawardene. Curiously, he did not find another team in the auction and will be the biggest miss amongst the West Indian contingent. 

Strangely, Alzarri Joseph did not get a contract renewal either despite delivering the IPL’s best ever bowling figures. Carlos Brathwaite was also released by KKR after a poor 2019-20. Other notable omissions are experienced opener Lendl Simmons, test captain Jason Holder, wrist spinner Hayden Walsh, allrounder Rovman Powell and the big hitting Rahkeem Cornwall.

Article edited by Machel Hewitt

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