Cricket has resumed its operations in the post-Covid world. The players are slowly getting back into the groove. Many have played non-stop cricket and are in the zone. But there are a lot of players who haven’t been that active on the field. These players stand at the risk of getting injured when put to test in the 2-month long IPL 2021. Here lies an opportunity for all those unsold players to walk in as able replacements.
StumpsandBails lists out 5 players who could come in as injury replacements in IPL 2021:
#5 Evin Lewis
Even Lewis is one of the most hard-hitting batsmen in world cricket currently. He is a World Cup-winning (2016) player who walks in with a champion mindset. Lewis has hit two centuries in T20I. He is one of those rare openers who strikes at 155.7 and averages 30.9. Lewis can be an ideal asset for any team that lacks a fiery opener in their ranks.
#4 Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid has time and again proven his limited-overs credentials. He has been one of England’s key players in white-ball cricket. Eoin Morgan believes Rashid is the most important bowler for England in T20I and ODI cricket. The Indian team found it difficult to attack Rashid owing to his canny ability and skill. He has 55 wickets in 57 games at an average of 26.6. His strike rate of 21.2 is commendable and his economy rate of 7.54 is very impressive.
#3 Billy Stanlake
Billy Stanlake made an immediate impression while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018. His height and awkward bounce make him a difficult customer to negotiate with. It is a surprise that teams haven’t gone for Stanlake. His career T20I stats are right up there with the very best. He has picked up 27 wickets in 19 games. His strike rate (15.6) is flat-out brilliant. For that alone, he should be picked right away.
#2 Thisara Perera
Thisara Perera kind of a player is a rare commodity in International cricket. He is a game-changer with both bat and the ball. Perera is a terrific fielder too. He is fresh from the feat of hitting 6 sixes in List-A cricket. His hard-hitting ability is known to everyone. Perera strikes at 151.6 coming down the order. His bowling is mighty effective too. His bowling strike rate of 21.6 is noteworthy even though he can be expensive at times. Perera can be an ideal replacement for a player like Jofra Archer.
#1 Devon Conway
The omission of Devon Conway in IPL 2021 caught everyone by surprise. He is currently one of the best T20I players in the world. This soft-spoken New Zealand cricketer has raised plenty of stakes with this batting. He can effortlessly switch gears from being an anchor to an aggressor. Conway averages a stunning 59.1 and strikes at 151.1 from 13 games he has played so far. How on earth could he not be playing the IPL!
