The IPL has been a multinational spectacle throughout these 10 years. Safe to argue it’s been one for the glory and history books. What has made that possible? It is the presence of genuine talent and the marquee players. The Caribbean flavour has been one of the major talking points of this multimillion league and the names we are going to talk about have occupied hearts and media spaces for some time now.
Let’s look at 9 players from West Indies who have literally lit up the IPL
1. Dwayne Bravo:
What a fantastic character Dwayne Bravo is folks. Over the years hovering with Mumbai, Chennai and the Gujarat Lions Bravo became one of the most likeable characters of the league. Who can forget his match-winning half-century in the very first game of this season to win CSK the game against MI by 2 wickets at the Wankhede? He has taken 129 wickets in 115 matches and is clearly a match winner.
2.Kieron Pollard:
Over the years, Pollard has formed a vital link in the Mumbai team along with Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma. With a strike rate of over 140 Pollard has made 2419 runs in 130 IPL games. He hasn’t quite got going in IPL 2018 and was also dropped from the team. Big, burly and a massive headache to sides that stand in the way of Mumbai Indians in arguably the most successful IPL franchisee.
3. Andre Russell:
In the absence of any great strike bowlers, the KKR would be depending on a great deal on Russell’s bowling talent. But it’s his batting that has really impressed one and all in the current season. Quite often he comes in lower down the order and smacks mighty sixes. A humongous strike rate of 180 is enough to prove his threat.
4. Evin Lewis:
He is bad news for Mumbai’s opponents this season as Lewis can produce muscular hits over the fence anytime. But apart from dealing in sixes- a sight that Virat Kohli and company got an enormous evidence of during his T20 ton at Fort Lauderdale in 2016- the leftie can find gaps on the covers and point region and can stitch valuable partnerships as well.
5. Lendl Simmons:
Simmons found no taker in the IPL 2018 because of his rough from last year where he could only score 74 runs from 8 matches. With 1079 runs from 29 IPL matches at an average of just below 40 his overall record is nothing short of special. He was the first centurion of IPL 2014 when he scored an unbeaten 100 off 61 balls with 14 fours and two sixes in a seven-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab.
6. Dwayne Smith:
The destroyer of bowling attacks Dwayne Smith has quite a journey in IPL. He started with MI then went to Deccan Chargers and returned to MI in 2010. The 2013 IPL saw him score 418 runs from 13 matches, he went one better in 2014, scoring 566 runs from 16 matches, including five half-centuries.
7. Sunil Narine:
An ace mystery spinner and one of the hardest bowlers to score off, Narine’s also upped the ante of scoring with the bat. Narine’s utility in the KKR side is a chest of gold at the moment and he is turning out to be the Go-to man for his team. Last year, KKR made the most use of his sterling form with the bat at top order. He has taken 105 wickets in 91 IPL games and most opposition teams look to play him out and score off other bowlers.
8. Carlos Brathwaite:
Even though he did not play this season he is treated as a most valuable player.One of the biggest buys for DD ahead of the 2016 edition of the IPL, Carlos Brathwaite made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2011 against Bangladesh but made headlines for the first time when he smashed sixes off four consecutive deliveries to help West Indies clinch the ICC World T20 2016 title.
9. Chris Gayle:
Chris Gayle is arguably the King of T20 cricket. After all, he is the all-time leading run scorer in the shortest format of the game. Gayle, who is a power hitter, is one of the most sought-after players in franchise cricket. The towering Jamaican has been a part of 105 IPL matches and has scored 3,878 runs Gayle has 6 hundred and 23 fifties to his name. Gayle’s 66 balls 175* against Pune Warriors, in 2013, is the highest individual score in T20 cricket. He is wreaking havoc for Kings XI this season with the willow. Looks like he is quite upset by the snub of not being picked by any side.
