The men to watch out for in IPL 6

The Indian Premier League is into its sixth year and every living soul involved in it in some capacity or other is still partying. While naysayers may have dismissed the high-profile player-auctions as the modern-day equivalent of cattle-trade, it sure sets the mood for the year’s cricketing extravaganza. Transfers, releases and retentions are scrutinised with microscopic precision, and there is usually a bomb or two at the bids that generates all sorts of emotions everywhere. So when Ravindra Jadeja’s star soared to $2 million in the 2012 auctions, a few applauded the owners for having made the best possible bargain, while others thought it was downright moronic – you could make a decent Bollywood movie with that kind of money, minus a Khan.

Cricket, fireworks, money, girls and parties – the 6^th edition ticks all those boxes. What it doesn’t guarantee, are horoscopes. The moolah that flowed under the hammer was but a trickle compared to the bricks of cash that were thrown around in the years past; there was the inevitable millionaire and some ‘that-escalated-quickly’ kind of bidding wars (R.P. Singh got himself a much needed ego-boost, and money). 37 players were shuffled around, a few of them only getting in for the first time. Here’s the bunch of people you need to look out for this season:

1. Glenn Maxwell (Mumbai Indians)

The Million-Dollar Baby

Will he be the X-factor that Mumbai Indians have lacked through the years? Or will he end up as the next Jadeja? Come what may, the Indians’ million-dollar-baby is sure to turn eyeballs his way. His figures at the international level may be unflattering (he has 197 runs in nine ODIs at 28.14 and four wickets at 58.50, and he averages around 15 in T20s), but don’t let them deceive you. He has a Kevin Pietersen-like flair to his batting, and possesses some delightful off-spin bowling tricks. Add to that the fact that he is among the top three fielders in the current Australian side and you are looking at a complete T20 all-rounder.

Maxwell is an exceptionally powerful hitter of the ball; playing for Victoria, he scored the fastest domestic half-century in Australia (off 19 balls against Tasmania) not too long ago. Of course, hours after he made the million cut, he was out for a duck against the West Indies.

Strength: Good with the leather, brilliant with the willow. Nicknamed ‘The Big Show’ for good reason.

Weakness: Turns edgy in pressure situations.

2. Quinton de Kock (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The Sunrisers and de Kock, surely loads of fodder for puns there. On a serious note, he could be exactly what a brand-new IPL team needs. Nestled between Kumar Sangakkara and Parthiv Patel, he may not get to keep wickets in every game, but he is a massive asset as a batsman.

De Kock spearheaded his side to third place during the Under-19 World Cup last year with explosive batting and sharp wicket-keeping, which caught the attention of people who mattered. Months later, playing for Highveld Lions in the rather forgettable Champions League T20 tournament, he played two match-winning knocks against fancied oppositions that thrust him into the international spotlight. Last December, he was South Africa’s youngest wicketkeeper-batsman to make his international debut in a T20 match. In January, he was opening the batting with Graeme Smith in his debut ODI series. He is 19 years old.

Strength: Leashed aggression in front of the wicket; speed and agility behind it.

Weakness: Conspicuous lack of consistency.

3. Ricky Ponting (Mumbai Indians)

Ah, why not? Did you ever imagine you’d get to see Sachin Tendulkar and Punter punch gloves to cheers and applause? Thank you IPL!

Ponting is a dinosaur, yes, but hardly a fossil. Having retired from international cricket in November last year, he is the quintessential Genghis Khan who, out of sheer boredom, comes out of his palace looking for more territories to invade and pillage. Unlike the dismal 2008 season that he had with the Kolkata Knight Riders (he’d been battling incessant criticisms about his batting, his place in the Australian side, his choice of toothbrush etc, whilst struggling to groom a post-Warne post-McGrath team then), today Punter is a free man.

It’s different this time; he has nothing to lose. There’s no pressure on him; all he has to do is pad up, walk to the 22-yards, and be the apocalyptic batsman that we all know him to be.

Strength: Extraordinary leadership skills and all that experience should come in handy.

Weakness: Might be a bit rusty to start with. Often perceived to have trouble against quality spin; an opinion that has never changed.

4. Abhishek Nayar (Pune Warriors India)

Long known as Mumbai’s crisis-man in first-class cricket, Nayar evens out his footwork-woes with immense mental strength and a steadfast approach to batting. He has played in all five seasons of the IPL, leaving Mumbai Indians for Kings XI Punjab after the first edition, and subsequently being bought by Pune Warriors this year. With an impressive batting average of 57 in first-class cricket, Nayar is also handy as a right-arm medium pace bowler with the ability to get wickets at regular intervals.

At the international level, he has always drawn the short straw. As is the case with many an outstanding Ranji player, he scored a duck in his only one-day international match back in 2009. The fitness issues that followed kept him far and away from the selectors’ eyes. At 29, he might consider this IPL to be the step-ladder to get back into national reckoning as soon as possible. India is perennially short of all-rounders; if he clicks this season, that’d be his ticket to go places.

Strength: The go-to guy in pressure situations; probably would be Sourav Ganguly’s first choice in crunch games.

Weakness: Injuries galore.

5. Chris Morris (Chennai Super Kings)

Just when you thought South Africa was done generating all-rounders, out pops Chris Morris. Not to be confused with the British comedian, this lanky 25-year old is all-business, and reminds one of a certain Lance Klusener.

Playing for Highveld Lions in domestic matches, he clocks north of 140 kph more often than not. He was the highest wicket-taker in last year’s domestic T20 tournament. The IPL hounds picked his stench during the Champions League T20 months later, when he was instrumental in the Lions beating three of the best IPL teams that participated. His confrontational batting style makes him an ideal finisher in T20 games, a quality to cherish in the IPL.

Strength: Future-greatest-all-rounder-ever potential.

Weakness: Never been to India.