IPL 2020 finally starts today! T20 format is the shortest format of the game and one significant performance can change the outcome of the entire match.
An impactful cricketer can pretty much prove to be a game-changer. He can snatch the match from the jaws of the defeat irrespective of what may have happened until that time.
One of the interesting examples being Mumbai Indians winning the entire tournament despite not having an orange or a purple cap. Today we list out some most valuable players (MVPs) of each team. They might all not be all-rounders, however, their performance is a key asset to the team.
Virat Kohli (RCB)
Virat Kohli is hands down one of the best batsmen to grace a cricket pitch. The man is a legend irrespective of format, opposition, and conditions. He can play the bull and the matador. This year he is not only expected to score high but also lead RCB to their maiden IPL trophy ever. Kohli has done a great job firstly by taking responsibility to open the innings.
He has also instilled confidence in his pace bowlers and spinners. He has backed young talent like Mohammad Siraj and Navdeep Saini. Because of him, both Umesh Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have improved. Sadly he fails to get the collective effort of the rest of the team.
Jasprit Bumrah (MI)
One may have a conversation between who’s the MVP for MI between Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. However, Bumrah edges that conversation by a bit. He is hands down one of the best bowlers in the world, irrespective of the format. He will lead the diverse Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack. Bumrah is known for his skill of bowling both yorkers and slower deliveries at will. He has been consistently taking wickets and saving runs in the death overs which makes him the MVP.
Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)
Ravindra Jadeja has already been named as the most valuable player of the 21st century by Wisden. He continues to be the same for Chennai Super Kings. He can be flexible with the bat and will provide the much-needed cushion in the absence of Suresh Raina. He can pick up wickets with the ball and can effectively bat in the powerplay overs. Not to forget, he can save 10-15 runs by his world-class fielding.
Sunil Narine (KKR)
Just like Sharma and Bumrah, Narine and Russell make the conversation for the most valuable player for KKR. We may see an updated version of both in IPL 2020. KKR is famously known for using Narine as a pinch-hitter by promoting him to open and surprisingly, he hasn’t failed. Narine is hands down one of the best bowlers in the shorter format of the game. With a change in action and pace variation, he’s expected to be even more lethal.
Rashid Khan (SRH)
Rashid Khan is probably one of the best T20 spinners in the world. He is known for his speedy deliveries that can tun both ways. He will be even more dangerous on UAE pitches. He can play big shots in the lower middle-order and is a great fielder as well.
Jos Buttler (RR)
Jos Buttler has evolved himself into a great T20 opener. He has always been amongst the runs for RR and has continued to do that to date in all three formats of the sport. This year he will be accompanied by the young and exciting Yashasvi Jaiswal who can provide him assistance as well.
KL Rahul (KXIP)
Rahul has been the lone warrior for KXIP for the last two years. However, he has updated himself into a vicious T20 cricketer. Rahul finds himself at an impressive spot of number 2 on the T20 best batsman rankings. Despite moving around in the stacked Indian batting line up, the Karnataka cricketer has consistently delivered match-winning performances both in ODIs and T20s. It will be interesting to see how the added weight of captaincy reflects on his performance. Rahul has always been a team man for team India batting at almost every position and also kept wickets. Therefore, taking responsibility isn’t something new for Rahul.
Shreyas Iyer (DC)
Iyer has been like a fresh of new air among the captaincy circuit. He took captaincy from Gautam Gambhir and took the team to an impressive third-place finish last season. What made it more impressive is that he had a very young team to work with. Iyer is expected to deliver the same performance this time around as well.
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