5 English players to watch in the 2020 IPL

English players have had a fascinating relationship with the Indian Premier League. It is well known now, especially in regards to the Kevin Pietersen incident of 2014, that the ECB were often reluctant to let their best players travel to India when they should be preparing for the start of the English season.

However, since the embarrassment of the 2015 World Cup, they have developed a new tact, one that sees the IPL as a vital learning curve and opportunity for white ball regulars and potential stars of the future.

The IPL has shown both the good and bad of English cricket. For instance Ben Stokes' incredible 2017 with both bat and ball, or Jonny Bairstow's dominance as a white ball opener in 2019 are both standouts. However, Jason Roy's miserable 2017 with the now defunct Gujarat Lions proves that it can often also be an incredibly tough time in an alien league for some of England's finest cricketers.

In this list then, we shall look at five English cricketers who have the potential to have an outstanding IPL tournament in 2020.

Also see – U19 world cup points table

#1 Sam Curran - Chennai Super Kings

England T20 Team Headshots

Sam Curran moved from Kings XI Punjab to Chennai Super Kings for the extraordinary price of Rs 5.5 crore. Curran's 2019 IPL stats were not incredible, with 10 wickets at an economy of nearly 10 an over, and 95 runs at an extremely healthy strike-rate of 172.

Yet we must not overlook the fact that he was just 20 years of age, with a relatively little experience. Also, as is often said about Curran, he seems to just make things happen. This came to the fore when he steamrolled the Delhi Capitals in 2019, who fell from 144-3 to 152 all out after Curran's unforgettable hat-trick and figures of 4 for 11 sealed the victory.

The young man's handy ability with the bat is also an added bonus. He can be thrown in at the top of the order, given a free pass to strike. A strike rate of 172 the previous year and a high score of 55 prove he can be as destructive with the bat as he can with the ball.

Given the fact he is a year older, and has more experience under his belt, it is likely that Curran will be able to perform more consistently. If he is able to do this he could easily prove to be one of the most destructive all-rounders in this years IPL.

#2 Chris Jordan - Kings IX Punjab

BBL - Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers

Chris Jordan's first year in the IPL was a successful one, taking 11 wickets at an average of 23 in the 2016 version of the tournament. Since then, however, his performances have failed to live up to promise, with just two more matches in the competition since that season.

Over the past 12 months, Jordan has steadily improved his T20 game, becoming an undoubted regular in both the international set up and in global tournaments such as the Big Bash League. This is proven in his international stats. Since taking 1 for 40 in a T20 game against India at Bristol, Jordan's average in the international short format has fallen from 29 to 24, including a career best 4 for 6 against the West indies in early 2019.

Having experienced both success and failure Jordan is now an weathered professional, and one with vast knowledge of the T20 game. At 31 years of age, and with a World cup around the corner, he should have both the skill and temperament to make the 2020 IPL tournament his most successful yet, and thus guarantee his place in the world cup squad.

#3 Moeen Ali - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Worcestershire Rapids v Essex Eagles - Vitality T20 Blast Final

Moeen Ali is an intriguing cricketer. Never has anyone looked as good when in full flow, yet as lost when things aren't quite working.

With this in mind, it is actually clear as to why Ali may have an extremely productive 2020 IPL. His IPL statistics have improved over time in the competition. In 2018 he scored 77 runs at an average of 19 and took 3 wickets at an economy rate of 7.36. In 2019 he bettered that, scoring 220 runs at 27 and taking 6 wickets at an economy rate of 6.76. His cleverness with the pace in which he bowls, and also the fact that he can consistently strike at over 160 with the bat (as he has done in his two previous IPL seasons) show just how destructive he can be as both an economical bowler and a top order batter.

His talent is undoubted, but this year he has a point to prove. He will need to show that he can still perform in high-pressure situations in order for England to trust him with a World Cup squad place. If Ali is able to use this pressure as motivation then there is every possibility that this may be his most consistent and destructive IPL yet.

#4 Tom Banton - Kolkata Knight Riders

BBL - Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat

Tom Banton is arguably the most exciting young batsmen in the world right now. Having impressed in the domestic English T20 competition (where he scored his maiden century for Somerset) with his ability to both hit powerful shots while also seeming to have already perfected the reverse-sweep and paddle, Banton is ready to take the world by storm.

Banton's domestic performances did not go unnoticed and he was picked up by the Brisbane Heat for the 2019/20 Big Bash Tournament. Having played 7 matches, scoring 350 runs with three half-centuries at a strike rate of 177, it is safe to say he impressed the Australian public with both skill and temperament

At such a young age, many people may say he will not be able to consistently score runs. Yet the fact he has a career average of nearly 35 after 27 games, including three at the international level, would suggest that this is a boy who already knows his game inside out.

If Banton is able to cope with the pressure of the IPL, which will undoubtedly be unlike any he has ever experienced before, then there is no reason why he cannot continue to dominate attacks at the top of the order. Initially he will have to make sure he is part of the first XI, but if he is able to do this then he undoubtedly has all the skill required to make his first IPL season a memorable one.

#5 Tom Curran - Rajasthan Royals

BBL - Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers

Tom Curran's previous year in the IPL came in 2018, and while not being a failure, his economy rate of 11.6 certainly wasn't what you would expect from one of your main pace bowlers.

However, at nearly 25 years of age, Curran is starting to get experience under his belt. He has also recently added batting to his repertoire, even coming in as high as number 6 for the Sydney Sixers in the current Big Bash League. He has actually proven to be relatively a destructive lower order batsmen, capable of performing vital knocks to increase the run rate at the back end of an innings, or having the coolness to finish off a chase. This can be seen in the fact that his Big Bash strike rate sits at a very healthy 146.

However, we cannot forget the main reason for Curran being picked up in this year's IPL is his bowling. The bowler currently sits at joint second with Rashid Khan on the Big bash League's wicket takers list for the current season, both having got 17 wickets so far. This would suggest that his bowling has also improved, and maybe now he has the experience to be a consistent threat.

Curran has all the tricks needed to be a success for the Rajasthan Royals, he can bowl decent slower balls and has an excellent yorker in his arsenal. It is now up to Curran to perform consistently whilst under pressure, but if he does manage to do this then there is no doubt he can have a surprisingly fruitful IPL tournament.