The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League is just a couple of days away and thus almost all the players have kick-started their preparation for the mega event. The previous season was nothing less than a blockbuster with many players establishing their footing in the marquee league.
This season is expected to be the same as a lot of new as well as experienced players are going to take the field. While the players in all the departments have managed to hog the limelight, it is mostly the batters who have decided the course of the game and bore the brunt of the result in the IPL over the last 16 seasons.
This year again, the batters are likely to gain a lot of attention and many top willow-wielders are expected to weave their magic in the middle. Here, we will discuss five players who are likely to cause carnage with the bat during the 2024 edition of the cash-rich league:
#5 Heinrich Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen is expected to put up a good show for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 17th season of the Indian Premier League. The batter showcased his mettle last season as he ended up as one of the top run-scorers for the Orange Army with a whopping 448 runs to his name in 11 innings at an impressive average of 49.72.
Klaasen’s impressive record in the T20Is is also a testament to his fine talent in the shortest format of the game. He has represented South Africa in a total of 43 T20Is scoring 722 runs at an average of 22.56 and a strike rate of over 147.
Despite batting in the middle order, Klassen finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the 2024 SA20 season and also overtook Jos Buttler to become the batter with the most runs in SA20 history. The batter has been in good form lately and is expected to continue his exploits in the upcoming IPL season as well.
#4 Ruturaj Gaikwad
In Devon Conway’s absence, Ruturaj Gaikwad would have to step up for the Super Kings
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been one of the main reasons behind Chennai Super Kings’ good performance over the last few years. He has delivered some marvellous performances in the last three years and the odds are in favor of the opening batter to repeat his heroics.
IPL 2023 saw Gaikwad being the second-highest run-scorer for the MS Dhoni-led side after Devon Conway with 590 runs in 16 matches at an average of 42.14. He was one of the main reasons behind the Super Kings lifting the cup last season by defeating Gujarat Titans in the final.
Gaikwad hasn’t played much cricket in the past few months as he is yet to establish himself as a permanent member of the Indian team but the chances of him scoring well in the IPL are high considering he is well-versed with the Chennai pitches.
#3 Yashasvi Jaiswal
One Indian player who has captured the media and fan attention in recent times has to be Yashasvi Jaiswal. The opening batter made his Test debut last year and immediately commanded respect for his flamboyancy and neat batting skills.
Jaiswal is expected to continue the good form in the IPL as well for Rajasthan Royals as the team would be looking for their second title win. The youngster proved his batting capabilities last season as well finishing as the highest run-getter for the Royals with 625 runs at an average of over 48 and an impressive strike rate of over 163.
Batting alongside the likes of Buttler and RR skipper Sanju Samson, Jaiswal would be aiming to put on runs and seal his berth in the Indian team for the upcoming 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
#2 Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis was the top run-getter for RCB in IPL 2023
Another opening batter to make a place in this esteemed list is Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis. Over the last few IPL seasons, Faf had proved his batting mettle irrespective of the playing ground and the franchise. Following his exploits for the Chennai Super Kings, he has repeated the same for the RCB as well.
During the 2023 IPL season, du Plessis finished second to only Shubman Gill in the run-scoring charts with 730 runs at an average of 56.15 in 14 games. As RCB would be once again hoping to lift the cup for the first time, the skipper is likely to play a crucial role.
The return of Virat Kohli to the world of cricket after a hiatus of two months would certainly boost du Plessis’s confidence after the former Proteas skipper had a dire season back home in the SA20 with the Joburg Super Kings skipper scoring only 239 runs in 11 matches.
#1 Shubman Gill
Since the entry of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League, Gill has proved to be the backbone of their decorated batting line-up. The opening batter has lived up to the expectations in both the seasons and the 2024 edition is likely to be no different.
This year, Shubman is expected to deliver even better with the bat as the management has trusted him with the leadership duties as well. The incumbent Titans skipper would have his task cut out as a well-oiled machine has certainly lost two of its key pieces in Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami.
It was a memorable season for Gill last year as he finished at the top of the run-scoring charts and was awarded the Orange Cap for scoring a whopping 890 runs in 17 matches and three of the Titans’ bowlers also finished in the Top 5 race for the Purple Cap with the Ahmedabad-based franchise losing the final on the last ball of the match.