A big IPL awaits global stars ahead of 2024 T20 World Cup

A host of international cricketers will feature in the IPL 2024. As 10 sides compete to win the all-important IPL Trophy, a number of players from across the world will look to boost their international prospects ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Rishabh Pant

After suffering a horrific accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant will finally return to competitive cricket in this edition of the IPL. While his ferocious hitting has made him a Test regular, his T20I career hasn’t achieved the same heights. 987 runs in the format at an average of 22.43 and a strike rate of 126.37 hardly do justice to the special talent that the player possesses.

Leading Delhi Capitals in the IPL, Pant will have a golden opportunity to establish his fitness and form weeks before the T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli

Having featured in just two T20Is since the last T20 World Cup in Australia, Virat Kohli will look at the upcoming games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru to strengthen his claim for a spot in the India setup.

The batter’s record speaks for itself, but Kohli might work on his strike rate to build on his role as a sheet anchor. Kohli’s experience is also a big plus, and he has delivered crucial knocks at key stages of previous editions of the T20 World Cups. These include his 72* against South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2014 edition and a breathtaking 82* in the previous edition against Pakistan.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has faced significant challenges in recent years on the international stage, with injuries casting a shadow over his journey. His most recent setback occurred during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where he sustained an ankle injury during a match against Bangladesh, forcing an early end to his campaign.

Since then, Pandya has embarked on a rigorous journey of recovery, marked by significant changes, including his return to his former IPL team, the Mumbai Indians, where he will now serve as captain in the upcoming season.

A finisher, fast bowler and leader, Pandya's multifaceted abilities make him a rare asset in the Indian T20I setup. A successful and injury-free IPL campaign would not only mark his return to form but also bolster his chances of reclaiming a spot in the potential squad for the T20 World Cup.

Rashid Khan

Another player making his way back to cricket after a long break is Afghanistan’s ace spinner Rashid Khan. Rashid underwent surgery to repair his lower back after the completion of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in November.

The leggie recently made his return to international cricket and it hasn’t looked like he has missed a beat, scalping eight wickets in the three-match T20I series against Ireland.

With just three matches under his belt since his return, the timing of the IPL couldn't be more opportune for Rashid, who represents the Gujarat Titans, presenting the perfect chance for him to regain his rhythm ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.

KL Rahul

With all the shots in his book, KL Rahul should be an automatic selection across all formats. However, after featuring as an opener in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, the batter hasn’t returned to the India T20I setup. While his career strike rate is impressively placed close to 140, his scoring rate has decelerated in recent times, down to 120.75 in the last T20 World Cup.

Given India’s riches, their top order is already packed with quality options. However, as he has shown in the ODI format, Rahul is not averse to taking risks and donning several roles for the side. A utility player to the core, an improved run with the bat for Lucknow Super Giants can give a big boost to Rahul’s T20 World Cup chances.

Ishan Kishan

The past few months have been tumultuous for Ishan Kishan, who found himself excluded from BCCI’s central contract list following a leave of absence from the Indian cricket team.

Before that, Kishan had shown glimpses of great form in the shortest format, with two fifties in three games against Australia in late November.

The door to return, however, has been kept open by the coach of the Indian team Rahul Dravid, who has reiterated on several occasions that a player’s return depends solely on his fitness and performance

Kishan will most likely open the batting for Mumbai Indians and standing at the other end will be the Indian captain Rohit Sharma, giving the southpaw the perfect opportunity to showcase his fiery batting at the top. 

Additionally, Kishan's proficiency behind the stumps could further enhance his prospects of a national team recall, particularly amidst uncertainties surrounding the wicketkeeper's position in the potential T20 World Cup squad.

Anrich Nortje

South Africa’s ace pacer Anrich Nortje has featured in three T20s after returning from the back injury that has kept him out of international cricket since September 2023. The fast bowler will look to build on his comeback with Delhi Capitals in a quest to feature for South Africa in the upcoming global megaevent.

While his arrival into the IPL will be delayed due to the birth of his child, Nortje is certain to feature in the later stages of the tournament. The South African management will keep a close eye on his return as the pacer is expected to team up with the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Marcus Stonis

Injuries, alongside Australia's wealth of talent in the middle-order and all-rounder positions, have led to Marcus Stoinis frequently moving in and out of the national team setup in both ODIs and T20Is.

Stoinis showed glimpses of great form, first at the SA20 in South Africa with 10 wickets in five matches and then the T20I series against West Indies, contributing both with the bat and ball before a back injury ruled him out of the T20I series against New Zealand.

Stoinis was a key figure in Australia’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, playing vital knocks in victories against South Africa and Pakistan.

This year, with Lucknow Super Giants, Stoinis finds himself under the mentorship of Justin Langer, who served as Australia’s coach during their triumphant 2021 edition. Langer's guidance could potentially reignite Stoinis' prowess, especially with the willow, presenting a compelling selection headache for Australia ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Ravi Bishnoi

A member of India’s class of 2020 in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, Ravi Bishnoi was touted for big things at a young age and over the years, has lived up to the hype, both in domestic and international cricket.

Within no time, Bishnoi has become a regular in India’s T20I setup, scalping 36 wickets in 24 matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.5.

Once ranked as the top T20I bowler in the ICC Rankings, Bishnoi now stands on the cusp of inclusion in India’s potential T20 World Cup squad and a stellar IPL campaign with the Lucknow Super Giants could solidify his position as one of the first names on the team sheet.

Shamar Joseph

Shamar Joseph jumped into the limelight almost out of nowhere, when he helped the West Indies humble Australia at the Gabba in January 2024. 

His 13 Test wickets at 17.3 in the series were impressive in themselves, but his sensational 7/68 in Brisbane, which helped West Indies secure their first drawn Test series against Australia since 1999, showed how special the player was. The ICC Men's Player of the Month for January 2024 then got a contract with the Lucknow Super Giants after Mark Wood pulled out of the IPL and the youngster has a chance to impress and stake his claim in the West Indies T20I squad.

He has featured in just two T20s so far, but if his meteoric rise is anything to go by, the youngster will reach even greater heights in the coming weeks.