Top 5 Foreign Players to watch out for in IPL 2024

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is more than just a cricket tournament; it’s a celebration of talent and passion, a summer festival for cricket fans. As we gear up for IPL 2024, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the electrifying performances from both seasoned stars and emerging talents.

Mitchell Starc

This season, all eyes are on Mitchell Starc. His raw pace and dangerous swing have the potential to anger any batsman, making him a valuable strength for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Known for his fiery opening spells and ability to pick up crucial wickets in the death overs, Starc’s experience on the big stage can be the difference between victory and defeat for his team. Starc recently picked up 16 wickets in World Cup 2023. This would mark Starc’s comeback to the IPL after his last appearance in 2015.  He represented Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2014 and 2015. He had previously featured in 27 matches, taking 34 wickets across two seasons for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Starc became the most expensive cricketer in the history of the T20 league after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) roped him in for a massive price of INR 24.75 crores.

Daryl Mitchell

Mitchell became the second-most expensive New Zealand player ever purchased in the 15-year history of the IPL during the IPL 2024 Auction. Mitchell, who starred with the bat at the ODI World Cup, has played in the IPL once previously, making two appearances for Rajasthan Royals during the 2022 season, where his services were acquired for his base price of Rs. 75 lakhs.

All-rounder Daryl Mitchell was bought by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹14 crores. In the 16th season (2023) of the IPL, the Kiwi player did not take part in the tournament. His last season was in 2022 with Rajasthan Royals (RR). His best performance in the IPL happened back in 2022 when he scored 17 runs off 18 balls while playing against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. In the entire tournament, he only got to play two matches and scored a total of 33 runs.

Rachin Ravindra

This teenage sensation from New Zealand has already made a mark in cricket on an international level with his graceful. Known for his exceptional timing and ability to play spin with ease, the Kiwi player who created a storm during his stint at the ICC World Cup 2023 was brought by one of the most successful teams of IPL, Chennai Super Kings, and even might emerge as a star player for the Chennai-based franchise.

Pat Cummins

Cummins made headlines during the IPL 2024 auction. SRH secured Cummins’ services with a staggering bid of Rs 20.5 crore, making him one of the most expensive players in the tournament’s history. Cummins’ impressive career includes leading Australia to victory in the ICC World Test Championship in 2023 and the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India. He last featured in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.

Cummins played in 37 IPL matches from 2014 to 2021, taking 38 wickets. In IPL 2021 he played in seven matches and took nine wickets, also scoring 93 runs.

Travis Head

Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Australia’s World Cup hero Travis Head for Rs 6.80 crore in the ongoing IPL Auction in Dubai. The Australian opener is about to unleash his aggressive batting style and experience for the team. So far, he has played 10 matches and has scored 205 runs in IPL from 2016 to 2017.

Head played a pivotal role in Australia’s title triumph in the World Cup 2023. In the World Cup final, Head was instrumental in securing victory for his team with a masterful innings of 137 runs from 120 balls at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

These are just a few of the players who are set to light up the IPL 2024. With a mix of established stars and rising talents, the tournament promises to be an exciting spectacle of cricket, filled with thrilling contests and individual brilliance. So, buckle up and get ready for a summer of non-stop cricketing action!