5 lesser known foreign players who could do well in IPL 2016

The 9th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) would kick-off in Mumbai on April 9, with the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, to take on one of the two new franchises participating this year, the Rising Pune Supergiants.

With the recently concluded World T20, we know who the in-form players are in the shortest format of the game, and who could be the favourites to shine in the IPL.

Also, with players being picked based on their performances in other domestic T20 tournaments, such as the Big Bash League (BBL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) there would be no dearth of foreign talent this IPL, especially in terms of new faces who haven’t featured in the league before.

There are a few lesser known foreign players who could do well this year in the IPL, based on how they have been playing T20 cricket of late. Here, we have compileda list of five such players.

1. Colin Munro

Colin Munro has a T20 strike rate of 146.52 as an opener

While Martin Guptill has, of late, stolen all the limelight at the top of New Zealand’s batting order, his opening partner, Colin Munro, has been no less lethal with the bat, as far as T20 cricket is concerned.

WIth scores of 23, 45, and 36 against Australia, Bangladesh and England in the World T20, Munro has shown that he is more than capable of giving his team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, a decent start at the top.

Overall, in 108 T20 matches, the 29-year-old left-hander has made 2088 runs at 27.11 and a strike-rate of 146.52. With such vast amount of experience in T20 cricket, Munro can be a vital cog in any team’s batting line-up, and KKR have made the right choice in picking him up.

2. Sam Billings

Sam Billings has 1168 runs from 67 T20 games

Sam Billings is a bright England prospect, who hasn’t got his share of chances so far for his national side.

The wicketkeeper-batsman may have always lost his place to the hard-hitting Jos Buttler in the English line-up, but going by his T20 records, he is a capable enough player to feature in any T20 side’s line-up.

With 1168 runs from 67 games at an average of 20.49 and a strike-rate of 121.54, Billings makes himself a viable contender for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s slot. His impressive performance in the PSL also hold him in good stead, and his skills behind the stumps give him an edge over other batsmen of his calibre.

He was picked by the Delhi Daredevils this season.

3. Travis Head

Travis Head had a terrific BBL season scoring 299 runs from 9 games at 42.71

The BBL sensation, Travis Head, earned his National Team call-up based on his performances in Australia’s domestic T20 competiton, wherein he scored 299 runs from 9 games at a mind-boggling average of 42.71 and a terrific strike-rate of 154.92.

The left-handed top order batsman is reknowned for his power hitting and his ability to clear the fence with ease. Although Head couldn’t do much in the two international games that he played, both T20s against India, his talent and and abilities with the bat cannot be underestimated.

Overall, in 23 T20 games, Head has 566 runs at 29.78 and has a strike rate of 149.73. He was also picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

4. Andrew Tye

Andrew tye was impressive during his stint with the Perth Scorchers in the BBL this season

Another BBL star, Andrew Tye, also earned his Australia call-up post his successful stint with the Perth Scorchers in the 2015-16 season.

Tye picked up 13 wickets from 9 games and had an economy rate of 7.06 for the Scorchers and made a name for himself for bowling yorkers at the death. Based on that stint, he was picked up by the Gujarat Lions, the other new franchise apart from the Rising Pune Supergiants.

In total, he has played 25 T20 matches and has picked up 31 wickets at 22.22 and a decent economy rate of 7.40. He could be a vital part of the Lions’ new-ball attack, as well as coul;d be a canny customer at the death.

5. Carlos Brathwaite

Carlos Brathwaite was one of the stars of the ICC World T20 2016 final between England and the West Indies

Before the 20th over of the World T20 2016 final between West Indies and England, not many people knew who Carlos Brathwaite was.

He was there, batting with Marlon Samuels-- who was in the middle of a gem of an innings for the second time in a World T20 final-- quietly rotating the strike, before he exploded in the final over hitting 4 consecutive sixes when his side needed 19 runs to win off it.

It was then that Delhi Daredevils’ decision of picking him in the auctions was justified to the fullest, as they knew that they had roped in someone special, as far as T20 cricket is concerned.

While the world was, and still is, drooling over his 4 sixes, he had picked up 3 crucial wickets as well in England’s innings, including wickets of Joe Root and Jos Buttler, that helped the Caribbeans restrict the English to a par total.

His skills, not just as a batsman, but as an all-rounder would be extremely crucial to the Daredevils’ campaign, who are yet to win an IPL, and have had a couple of disappointing runs in the past two seasons.