SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 18: Cam Green of the Scorchers bats during the Big Bash League match between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers at the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 18, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The 16th season of the Indian Premier League is set to commence in late March and conclude by the 28th of May, with 10 teams competing for the title.
Coming off an exciting auction with some big buys and retainments, this year's edition of the IPL is stacked with incredibly talented game-winning cricketers.
Here is a closer look at a few such talents who will critical in determining the success of their respective franchises.
The Indian limited overs vice-captain put his leadership qualities on display last time out as he guided the Titans to their maiden IPL title in their debut season.
Since his debut in the IPL, Pandya has been one of the most consistent cricketers despite injury setbacks. Last season, Pandya led by example, scoring 487 runs with an average of 44.27 and also scalped eight wickets.
Pandya has put his bowling capabilities on display in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, taking three wickets in the decider.
Pandya will look to continue his fine performances and guide the Titans to back-to-back titles.
The West Indian cricketer is coming into the IPL off strong performances in the international circuit. Holder was snatched up by the Royals for an absolute bargain at A$700,000.
In the previous season, the all-rounder had a decent campaign for the Lucknow Super Giants, scalping 14 wickets in 12 appearances and guiding the franchise to a playoff spot.
Holder boasts vast experience in the 20-over format, having played for several franchises in different domestic leagues and is certain to provide some stability to the Royals this year.
Holder will join a quality bowling lineup with the likes of Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravichandran Ashwin in the hopes of going one better than last year's efforts of reaching the finals.
Having risen through the ranks, and now one of India's premium fast bowlers, Siraj will look to continue his white ball resurgence and help RCB clinch their first IPL title.
Over the last year, Siraj has been a phenomenal new-ball bowler and has a knack for picking up crucial wickets. Siraj created havoc against recent opponents with his new wobble-seam delivery and has a great set of variations that can come in handy no matter where he bowls. 31 of his 59 IPL wickets have come in the last three years amd the Indian quick will look to continue this rhythm as he adopts the role of a senior bowler this IPL.
Axar Patel was previously recognised as a bowling all-rounder, but over the last year has significantly enhanced his batting proficiency, undoubtedly being the pick of the Indian batsmen at the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy.
With the bat, Patel has the ability to either anchor the tail or play aggressively according to the match situation. A new-look Delhi team will also look to Patel to help them pick crucial wickets in the middle overs with the ball.
Patel has been appointed deputy to David Warner to lead the franchise and is expected to have a crucial role in this edition of the IPL.
Another one of England's finest in modern cricket, Curran boasts impressive stats in both IPL and T20 cricket.
Since his debut in the IPL, the all-rounder has 337 runs and 32 wickets in his 32 games. After missing the previous season of the IPL, Curran made a fitting return to T20 cricket by winning player of the tournament at the recently concluded T20 world cup in Australia.
Curran was scalped by the Punjab Kings in the mini-auction for nearly A$3.4 million, making him the most expensive acquisition in the history of the competition.
The PBKS faithful will be hopeful that Curran, alongside the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh, will form a powerful trio to help them clinch their first IPL trophy.
Archer will finally line up in Mumbai blue, after being picked up by the franchise in the 2022 mega auction. The Englishman spent nearly 17 months on the sidelines due to back and elbow injuries.
Now fully fit and appearing for the Three Lions in the T20 series against Bangladesh, Archer's importance in the IPL will be heightened due to Bumrah's unavailability this season, and he will look to capitalise on the pace-friendly Wankhede wicket in Mumbai.
Also handy with the bat, the four weeks of the tournament can be a platform for Archer to make his way back into the white-ball elite.
The Australian all-rounder comes into the IPL off fine form after impeccable performances as a makeshift opener in the ODI series against India, where he also won the player of the series honour.
Marsh scored two quick-fire half-centuries in Mumbai and Vizag, quickly acclimatising to the subcontinent pitches and conditions. The value of Marsh to this Delhi side and his partnership with fellow Aussie David Warner at the top of the order is expected to set the stage on fire.
Marsh's big-hitting ability, bowling, and fielding artistry strengthen the Capitals immensely.
Bought for a staggering A$3.15 million as a long-term replacement for Kieron Pollard, Cameron Green became the most expensive Australian cricketer in IPL history in this year's mini-auction.
Another all-rounder on the list has huge expectations ahead of his first IPL season. Handy with both the bat and the ball, Green will look to prove himself worthy of his massive paycheck. Green's versatility in the batting order and ability to extract bounce off a surface will provide MI with a significant advantage over other teams despite his lack of experience in this format.
Upon releasing all-rounder Sam Curran in the mini-auction, CSK capitalised on the availability of fellow Englishman Ben Stokes, purchasing him for nearly A$3 million. Stokes has played 43 matches in the IPL in which he has scored 920 runs and taken 28 wickets.
However, after fracturing his finger in the first game of the 2021 IPL season, the explosive southpaw has not featured in the competition since. In this edition of the IPL, CSK will field two of the most formidable all-rounders in world cricket in Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja, who will look to add another prestigious trophy to the cabinet of the men in yellow.
One of the most exciting talents in world cricket right now, the young English batsman has performed exceptionally across all three formats.
Picked up by SRH at a whopping A$2.41 million, Brook will be the franchise's marquee batsman and will aim to take a page out of coach Brian Lara's book to add to his skill set.
Brook has a natural attacking approach to the game with an exceptional shot portfolio and has a fair share of experience in franchise cricket after stints in South Africa, England, and Pakistan.
The Englishman has big boots to fill after veteran Kane Williamson's departure but will look to embrace the opportunity at his hands and work on his game ahead of the 50-over world cup taking place in India later this year.