CPL 2016: 5 Top Players to watch out from the tournament

One of the reasons why CPL 2016, the fourth edition of West Indies' premier domestic T20 tournament, is all set to be more exciting than the first three editions is the presence of a lot more top quality international players.

While the likes of AB de Villiers and Shane Watson are making their debut in the competition, there are other regulars and a lot more big names in the world of T20 who will take part in this year's tournament. With plenty of curious eyes, there is no shortage of top players to watch out for from the tournament.

So here are 5 top players to watch out from the tournament:

Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn might not be a regular in the shortest format as far as the national team is concerned, but there is no denying his effectiveness in the format. Armed with all the necessary skills to shine in the format, the South African fast bowler will certainly be one to keep an eye out for in the tournament as he turns out for the Jamaica Tallawahs.

Fresh from his participation in the Natwest T20 Blast for Glamorgan and the ICC World T20 before that, he certainly won't be short of practice in the format. And playing in the competition for the first time, he will be hoping to get off to a good start and come good for his side.

Whether he can do that or if he should stick to the longest format of the game will be a question that could well be answered in the Caribbean.

Chris Gayle

Despite scoring a century in West Indies' opening game of the World T20, Chris Gayle didn't exactly have a tournament to remember. When he followed that up with a poor start to the IPL, where he had to leave for the birth of his child and was subsequently dropped due to poor form, questions were raised as to whether the end was near for the format's undisputed No.1 batsman.

Yet, like he has done for most of his career, Gayle proved his doubters wrong towards the end of the IPL as he formed as a devastating opening partnership with Virat Kohli for Royal Challengers Bangalore. A stint with Somerset participating in the T20 Blast where he flexed his hitting muscles once again was proof that the West Indian opener isn't done just yet.

So it will certainly be interesting to see how Gayle goes about his work in the fourth edition of the CPL and whether he can light up the tournament like he used to.

Martin Guptill

Sometimes, even with all of the different rules and technicalities, cricket manages to defy belief. How else could you explain Martin Guptill, one of the most destructive openers in world cricket over the past 18 months being overlooked in the IPL Auction 2016? Then again, stranger things have happened.

Although he was subsequently bought by the Mumbai Indians and played some part in the tournament, he wasn't used as well as he should have been. But in the CPL, where he has played already, there will be no chance of that happening, least of all, because he is the captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Having switched his allegiance for this year's competition, Guptill will be looking to lead from the front and help Guyana Amazon Warriors claim their maiden CPL title.

Kumar Sangakkara

One look at the current Sri Lankan side across all formats and you wonder whether Kumar Sangakkara did the right thing by deciding to retire from international cricket. Such has been the southpaw's prolific run-scoring leading up to and after his retirement that people have started to wonder if he is carving out a new name for himself all over again.

While his decision to retire may have affected Sri Lanka adversely, it has had no such effect on his batting, which has been nothing short of exemplary ever since the 2015 World Cup. Whether it is for Surrey in the English domestic competitions or in the inaugural Masters Champions League, Sangakkara has been in great form.

So it was certainly surprising to see him not being included in the list of players that got picked for IPL 2016. Whatever the reason was, for not picking Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan batsman will look to continue his impressive form with the bat in the CPL.

Dwayne Bravo

Will Bravo the all-rounder please stand up

There is little doubt that Dwayne Bravo is one of the best death bowlers in the shortest format of the game. But if the last few months are any indication it is that the West Indian has become more of a bowler rather than an all-rounder as he used to be not too long ago.

IPL 2016 saw him being used almost primarily as a bowler and even when he did get the opportunity to bat, he didn't make as much use of it as he should have been. Which all begs the question of whether he has transformed himself or whether that was just one tournament and a blip that shouldn't be taken seriously.

In the history of the tournament, no side has managed to retain the crown and Trinbago Knight Riders, formerly Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, will be looking to change that and Bravo will be a key part of that.