This year, the 16th season of the hugely successful Indian Premier League will see some world-renowned T20 stars strut their stuff as they make their IPL debut. They have already made a name for themselves in other formats of cricket, and millions of eyes will be glued to their performances to see how they fare in the competition.
#1 Sikander Raza
Sikandar Raza stands out among the many talented all-rounders hailing from Zimbabwe. With impressive feats in international matches and T20 franchise competitions, the Sialkot native has achieved 3123 runs and claimed 83 wic, averaging 7.31 in 160 games. His outstanding performance caught the eye of Punjab Kings, who are looking ahead to IPL 2023 and chose to invest in Raza by acquiring him for INR 50 lakhs. As a 36-year-old experienced fighter, Raza looks to continue his success as he enters the 16th edition of the IPL.
#2 Mukesh Kumar
Delhi Capitals saw the potential in Mukesh Kumar and paid INR 5.5 crore to secure him at the 2023 IPL auction. As he prepares for the 16th IPL season, the 29-year-old from Gopalganj is looking to make a name for himself in the Indian domestic scene. An experienced first-class cricketer, he has an impressive 134 wickets at an average of 21.23 in 35 matches. He also has a 7.20 economy rate in 23 games in the T20 format.
#3 Harry Brook
Sunrisers Hyderabad has pulled out all the stops to acquire the impressive Harry Brook, renowned for his striking cricketing style. His ability to break apart bowling lineups with daring strokes has been a sight to behold, and his presence in any batting lineup will surely increase their punch. Hyderabad shelled out a whopping INR 13.25 crore to acquire the Yorkshire-born player, and Brook will be eager to make an impact in his first IPL season.
#4 Joshua Little
The 23-year-old Irish pacer Little saw his value skyrocket before the IPL 2023 auction, and Gujarat Titans made a strong attempt to acquire him at the main event, paying INR 4.4 crore for his services. Minor will have his work cut out for him during the upcoming season of IPL if he can return from a hamstring injury sustained while playing the inaugural edition of the SA20 tournament in South Africa.
#5 Cameron Green
Cameron Green is a real superstar, and the Mumbai Indians felt the same when they splurged INR 17.5 crore for his services during the 2023 player auction. The Australian all-rounder is a true gem, with the ability to bat in both the middle and top order, adding flexibility to the batting line-up. On the bowling side, his right-arm pacer has been a great asset, providing timely breaks and troubling batters with the extra bounce from the field. Any IPL team would benefit from having a player of Green’s caliber in their squad.