From King Kohli To Universe Boss: Five Star Players To Watch In The IPL 2021
Top players from around the world have gathered for the 14th Indian Premier League(IPL), which starts on Friday for a 52-day Twenty20 extravaganza played in empty stadiums because of the coronavirus p
Smith, who captained Royals last year, could find it tough to make the starting XI in a power-packed Delhi line-up including skipper Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, and Shimron Hetmyer.
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But coach Ricky Ponting insists Smith, a prolific top-order batsman who has amassed 2,333 runs in 95 IPL matches, will be hungry to perform in a T20 World Cup year.
"I think the fact that he's been released from the franchise that he's been at for a long time will make him a bit hungry as well this year," Ponting said on the Cricket Australia website.
He added Smith's chance to play would be in the top three of the batting order.
Chris Morris (Rajasthan Royals) -
The Royals broke the bank for the South African all-rounder in the IPL auction as the 33-year-old became the most expensive player in IPL history at $2.25 million.
Morris, who has claimed 80 wickets and scored 551 runs in 70 IPL games, admitted the price "blew my mind".
"There is a little bit of added pressure, but the pressure that you get from a price tag doesn't affect you on a cricket field at the end of the day," Morris said.
Chris Gayle (Punjab Kings) -
Still a force in Twenty20 cricket at the age of 41, the veteran remains a vital part of the Punjab Kings' batting arsenal. The self-styled "Universe Boss" exploded last season after making the side midway through the tournament to hit three half-centuries in seven matches.
Punjab missed out on a play-offs spot, but the destructive left-hander, who is targeting his third T20 World Cup title with West Indies later this year, said he believed the change in the team's name from Kings XI Punjab would also bring them a change in luck.
