IPL 2021 has started amidst the scare of the Corona pandemic. This has resulted in IPL being played at neutral venues. Teams and players will find it tough to adapt to changing venues and conditions. Only the best ones will thrive the rest will find it challenging.

StumpsandBails believes owing to such a rule, these players might prove to be the studs and duds of IPL 2021:

Studs of IPL:

#3 Abdul Samad

Abdul Samad is a hard-hitting all-rounder. He made his IPL debut with SRH in IPL 2020. His big-hitting prowess came into fore last season. He smacked world-class bowlers all over the park effortlessly. Samad scored sixes of Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje. His strike rate was 170.8 and he was right up there with the best among those who had scored a minimum of 100 runs. Samad can even vie for an India berth in the World T20 squad if he has an outstanding IPL. India currently lacks a quality lower-order spin all-rounder. Samad can be that answer!

#2 Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell was heavily trolled last season. He failed to hit a single six during Punjab’s campaign in IPL 2020. RCB picked Maxwell for INR 14.25 crores in IPL 2021 auctions. He made his presence felt immediately in the first game itself. Maxwell scored freely against a top-class MI bowling unit. If he clicks for RCB of which he has shown glimpses then RCB will be a dangerous team.

#1 Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw had a disappointing IPL 2020. He scored 49 runs in his last 8 innings. Shaw looked completely out of sorts in the tour to Australia. He was dropped from the Test team after the first Test. Everyone had written him off. But Shaw worked his way towards making a comeback. He scored 827 runs in 8 games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He averaged 165 and his strike rate was 138. Shaw continued his good form in the first game for DC in IPL 2021. He is keen to make this season count and score truckload of runs.

Duds of IPL:

#3 Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya made his ODI debut in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja. He scored the fastest fifty on debut for any player. But he was found wanting in the remaining 2 ODI’s. He looked clueless when Ben Stokes took him apart in the 2nd ODI. Teams might have found a chink in Krunal Pandya’s armour. They will be looking to exploit it when they come up against the Mumbai Indians. It will be difficult for Krunal Pandya to work his way through this IPL.

#2 Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal is often touted as India’s leading white-ball spinner. This claim was severely questioned during India’s limited-overs series against England. Chahal was taken to cleaners by all English batsmen thereby showing the world the way to counter him. His economy rate of 7.69 is still decent in IPL but as MI showed in the first game teams will be going hard after Chahal from now on.

#1 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni hasn’t played active cricket since the last IPL. He will be rusty heading into IPL 2021. He will need time to find his groove. In a format like T20 and a competition like the IPL, spending time in the middle is a luxury that teams can’t afford. His leadership skills and wicket-keeping might still hold him in good stead. But his batting will find it difficult to reclaim the peaks that Dhoni has achieved.