IPL 2018: Here are 7 interesting facts about this year's IPL

The Indian Premier League is just around the corner and there is a lot of excitement and anticipation among the fans already. The one and a half months long tournament has become a landmark event in the calendar year for many who follow cricket across the globe. In its eleventh year, the IPL promises to be bigger, better and brighter and the lovers of the most lucrative cricketing league in the world want nothing more.

The IPL matches will be played at 9 venues in total. The 8 home venues of the respective franchises and Indore which is Punjab’s adopted home venue and will host 4 of Punjab’s 7 home games.

Here are 7 interesting facts about VIVO IPL 2018.

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#7 Team with the smallest squad this year

The two-time champion Kolkata Knight Riders team has only 18 players in its squad this season, which makes KKR the smallest squad in the league. Interestingly, the franchise is also the only one to spend even the last penny of its 80 crore budget.

This implies that Knight Riders cannot afford to have lot many injuries as the skipper may run out of options and the unit will need to find the right balance early on in the tournament. A lot will be expected from the first playing XI of the franchise.

After Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, the management has been looking for an apt replacement. With new skipper Dinesh Karthik at the helm of affairs, the franchise would try and entertain the fans and win the trophy in the process.

#6 The Billionaire industrialist's son who is featuring in the IPL

Aryaman Birla will play for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018

The Rajasthan Royals have made some big purchases in the IPL this year. However, a young 20-year old Aryaman Birla stands out.

Aryaman is the son of Kumar Mangalam Birla- one of India's biggest industrialist. For Aryaman, whose father's net worth is approximated at 80,369 crores, the price tag is of secondary importance as he was picked by the Rajasthan Royals for 30 lakhs.

Playing alongside the greats of the game like Ajinkya Rahane and Ben Stokes is more important to the left-handed batsman. The southpaw who usually opens the innings has preferred his cricketing dream over helping his father's business pursuits.

Aryaman would be itching to go out there and do well in his maiden IPL season.

#5 The Australian Cricketer who mentored Sandeep Lamichhane

Lamichhane was mentored by Michael Clarke

Sandeep Lamichhane is the first player from the Himalayan country of Nepal to play in the Indian Premier League. The 17-year old leg spinner scripted history when he was bought by the Delhi Daredevils for 20 lakhs.

Not many know of former Australian Captain Michael Clarke’s role in spotting and nurturing the teenage talent. Clarke saw Sandeep bowl at the Hong Kong sixes and has kept an eye on him ever since, giving him tips for improvement and providing him with constructive criticism.

According to the Nepali cricketer, Clarke is humble, a kind soul and helped him improve as a cricketer and as a person.

Clarke, though, was never a regular in the IPL. The Australian featured in only one IPL season (2012) scoring 98 runs in 6 matches for the now defunct franchise Pune Warriors.

#4 The Indian player who has played for the most number of franchises

Patel is back with the RCB this season

Parthiv Patel is the only cricketer to have played for as many as 6 franchises in the IPL when he turned up for the Mumbai Indians in 2015.

The Gujarat cricketer has played for the Chennai Super Kings in 2010, Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011, Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013, Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014 and the Mumbai Indians from 2015-2017.

The wicket-keeper batsman had his most successful stint with the Mumbai Indians and provided the team with brisk starts on many occasions. Patel is back with the Royal Challengers Bangalore this season.

#3 Team which has world’s No. 1 ranked T20 batsman

Colin Munro will play for the Delhi Daredevils this season

It is with Gautam Gambhir’s return to his home franchise that the Delhi Daredevils will look to break the jinx and win the tournament. The franchise has put together a wonderful looking unit ahead of the season which also includes- Colin Munro, who is currently the world’s No. 1 ranked T20 batsman as per the ICC rankings.

Munro has been phenomenal in the T20 leagues across the world and has carved a name for himself among the T20 specialist batsmen of world cricket. The southpaw’s form can be significant to Delhi’s fate in the IPL.

#2 Highest paid U-19 player of IPL 2018

16-year old Mujeeb Zadran fetched a 4 crore deal with the Kings XI Punjab

The highest paid U-19 player to feature in IPL 2018 is Afghanistan sensation Mujeeb Zadran who fetched a 4 crore deal with the Kings XI Punjab. He became the third Afghan player to be bought by an IPL franchise.

The Afghan cricketer is one of the youngest players in tournament’s history and the 16-year old spinner is capable of rewriting a few more records when he gets to play for the R Ashwin-led team. Zadran, being an off-spinner himself, could learn a few tricks of the trade from his skipper.

The teenager who was adjudged "man of the match" on his national debut is determined to have a memorable IPL season.

#1 The lone cricketer from Kashmir in IPL 2018

Manzoor Dar is the lone cricketer from Kashmir to play in IPL 2018

The Kings XI Punjab squad boasts of the lone cricketer from the valley of Kashmir- Manzoor Dar. Dar’s story is one of the most inspiring tales of IPL. From working as a daily wage laborer at 60 rupees per day to signing a deal of 60 lakhs with the Punjab franchise, Manzoor Dar has seen it all.

Primarily a middle-order batsman, Dar averages over 30 in the 9 T20s that he has played and would look to make a name for himself in the tournament.

This might be the beginning of a better life for Manzoor and his tale is one of the reasons why IPL is what it is.