Feature

The IPL new boys

A look at some of the high-profile first-timers at the IPL

Rachna Shetty
15-Apr-2014
Jimmy Neesham caught the attention at the Champions League T20 last year  •  BCCI

Jimmy Neesham caught the attention at the Champions League T20 last year  •  BCCI

Mitchell Starc
Recognised as one of Australia's promising young fast bowlers, Mitchell Starc will make his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He had made himself unavailable last year, opting to focus on the Ashes in England, before a back injury ruled him out of the home Ashes. Since his comeback, he has taken nine wickets in eight T20s; Royal Challengers will be hoping he can recover quickly from a little dip in form at the World T20. His handy batting skills - he has three half-centuries in Tests, including one against India last year - are a bonus in the format.
Pat Cummins
Stress injuries have been the biggest hindrances for Pat Cummins, who missed a large part of Australia's last domestic season due to a lower-back problem. He eased his way back into the game through grade cricket and the Big Bash League, and managing his fitness well will be key for Kolkata Knight Riders. If he can put up with the grind of the season, he could be a match-winner for Knight Riders in his maiden IPL outing, with his pace and swing.
Corey Anderson
With a gift for tearing apart the opposition bowling, athleticism on the field and dependable skills with the ball, it was hardly a surprise that Corey Anderson was in demand during the IPL auction and fetched a hefty Rs. 4.5 crores (US$ 750,000). Batting lower down the order and a slight decline in form have meant that Anderson has scored only two fifties since his record-breaking ODI century against West Indies, but he will still be a prized wicket for the opposition. He strengthens a Mumbai Indians line-up that has another explosive allrounder in Kieron Pollard. While hoping he has recovered fully from a finger injury, the franchise may also have to think about whether they ought to push Anderson up the order.
Jimmy Neesham
Jimmy Neesham's nerveless performance with the bat in a tied game against Lions in the Champions League last year was as good an audition for the IPL as any, and he reinforced his reputation with a century on Test debut against India earlier this year. He has a strike rate of nearly 160 in T20s and can also contribute a few overs with the ball. It will be interesting to see how Delhi Daredevils use him in their line-up, which counts Kevin Pietersen, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy and Ross Taylor as the other overseas batsmen.
Krishmar Santokie
When Lasith Malinga departs for national duty in May, Mumbai will have the option of replacing him with another unorthodox bowler. It's not just his slingy action that sets Krishmar Santokie apart; he has the ability to bring in interesting pace variations - some say he is more a quicker spinner than a slower pacer - which could prove a handful, especially for batsmen who have never faced him before. The left-arm pacer, who plays only limited-overs games in West Indies domestic cricket, was the leading wicket-taker in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League and also enjoyed success at home against England and in the World T20.

Rachna Shetty is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo