Rahul NareshHere’s our list of the top five all-rounders to look out for in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Also read: 7 Things To Look Forward To: IPL 2024
Rachin Ravindra
After stamping his authority on the cricketing universe in 2023 for New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra was picked up by the Chennai Super Kings for ?1.8 crore in the auction ahead of the 2024 IPL season.
Given his ability to bat across multiple positions in the top and upper-middle order, it will be interesting to see where Ravindra is given an opportunity by the CSK management. He also offers slow left-arm orthodox spin, which can come in handy on the slower wickets.
To date, he’s played 20 T20Is for the Black Caps and scored 214 runs with a healthy strike rate of 133.75, while picking up 11 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.68. Having played the ICC Cricket World Cup in India in 2023, Ravindra is no stranger to Subcontinent wickets.
Daryll Mitchell
The second Kiwi on this list is batting all-rounder Daryll Mitchell, a player who was bought by the CSK in the auction ahead of IPL 2024 for a whopping ?14 crore. Like Ravindra, Mitchell, too, impressed in the international circuit last year across all three formats of the game.
Mitchell has played 63 T20Is and scored 1,260 runs at a strike rate of 138.61. He is typically a middle-order batter who has the capability to come in and finish matches. With the ball, the 32-year-old can provide some effective overs of medium pace when required and has picked up eight T20I wickets so far.
Hardik Pandya
Up next in this list is the man who made the headlines by returning to the Mumbai Indians from the Gujarat Titans ahead of the 2024 IPL season. This decision took the IPL world by storm, given Pandya had led the Titans to title glory in their debut season in 2022. Nonetheless, he is now set to lead the MI, whom he represented from 2015 to 2021.
Pandya boasts an abundance of IPL experience, but his season will be watched closely in particular given his limited involvement in the international circuit in the lead-up to this year’s IPL season.
Pandya has played 123 matches in the IPL and has scored 2,309 runs at an impressive strike rate of 145.86. His medium-pace bowling also comes in handy, given he can bowl at the top as well as through the middle overs and has picked up 53 IPL wickets at an economy rate of 8.8.
Cameron Green
After representing the Mumbai Indians in 2023, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green will ply his trade for the Royal Challengers Bangalore this year. He is a talented batter who can play multiple roles and bowl useful overs with the ball.
Green will likely bat in the middle order for the RCB, with Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis likely to open the batting once again and Rajat Patidar expected to come in at #3.
In his 16 matches in the IPL so far, the 24-year-old Australian has scored 452 runs at a strike rate of 160.28, which includes a hundred as well. With the ball, Green has picked up six wickets at an economy rate of 9.5.
Despite his talent, Green will face challenges if the skipper turns to him for overs at the Chinnaswamy given the small size of the ground and its batting-friendly pitches.
Mitchell Marsh
Mitchell Marsh will be crucial to the Delhi Capitals’ chances of doing well in the IPL this season. Batting at the top of the order, Marsh has proved quite explosive for Australia and is also the captain of the national T20I team.
The Aussie all-rounder has a good amount of experience in the IPL, having represented Pune Warriors India and the SunRisers Hyderabad in the past. In 38 matches in the competition, he has scored 605 runs at a strike rate of 125.26.
Despite some average numbers in the IPL, Marsh will look to bring his recent international form to the party this time round. He’s also a handy bowler and has picked up 36 IPL wickets with an economy rate of 8.11.
