IPL 2018: Key overseas batsmen to watch out for

There's hardly a month left for the world's most popular domestic T20 league to begin. This year's IPL is going to be a blockbuster as it marks the return of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals after both of them served a ban of two years.

It's impossible to see raining sixes if you don't have batsmen who have the capability to do it. Fortunately, IPL consists of all the world-class batsmen who have entertained all the spectators with their valuable performances.

Overseas batsmen have always added a lot of glamour to the game. From Gayle's skyscraper sixes to David Warner's classy mayhem, all have been a great treat to the spectators.

Let's look onto the list of few overseas batsmen who will be up to entertain the spectators with their performances.

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#1 Colin Munro

Munro's hard-hitting will be a treat to the spectators

Whenever we talk about hard-hitting batsmen, Colin Munro is usually found at the top of the list. The Kiwi batsman was the first cricketer to hit three centuries in the T20I cricket. He has played 45 T20Is in his career and scored 1173 runs at an astounding strike rate of 163.59.

Munro was adjudged with the Man of the Series in the recent T20I series against West Indies. He scored 223 runs at a strike rate of 197.34. His recent form is a plus point for the Daredevils. Munro's hard-hitting performances are awaited by the entire team and the spectators.

He is undoubtedly the best top order batsmen which any of the teams could witness. Munro will be up to add a couple of centuries in his bag in this season.

#2 AB de Villiers

Mr.360 will be up for another rock and roll season with RCB

We all know what wonders Mr. 360 has done. ABD is one of the best hitters of the ball in all formats of the game. He makes Test cricket feel like a T20I. Furthermore, how can one forget his astonishing 31-ball hundred against West Indies.

Let's look into the statistics of this legendary batsman.

De Villiers has played 78 T20Is in his career and scored 1672 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 135.17. The No.2 ODI batsman has played 228 ODIs and scored 9577 runs at a sensational average of 53.5. He has a mouth-watering 25 ODI hundreds under his bag.

AB has an impressive IPL record playing for Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has played 129 IPL matches and scored 3473 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 148.17. He would be looking forward to again give few promising performances for the RCB and play a role to take them to their maiden IPL title.

#3 Brendon McCullum

The 36-year-old still has the capability of hitting big shots

Even though McCullum is 36 years old, but he still hasn't lost his ability to tonk the ball at will. He will be adding his experience to the entire line up and will be up to provide the team with a steady start.

McCullum has a T20I experience of 71 matches and scored 2140 runs at an exceptional average of 35.67.

He was the first batsman to hit two centuries in T20Is. McCullum also captained the Brisbane Heat team in the Big Bash league.

The former New Zealand batsman also has an impressive IPL career. He has played 103 matches and scored 2753 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 131.22. McCullum was the first player to hit a century in this league.

#4 Evin Lewis

Lewis will be looking to leave his mark in the IPL

Evin Lewis is the best batsman for Mumbai Indians, looking at his current form. He will be up to trouble all the world-class bowlers by his hard-hitting performances.

He has played 14 T20Is in his career and scored 468 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 154.97. He is also one of those batsmen who have scored two or more hundreds in T20Is.

Lewis came into the limelight when he smashed a 48-ball hundred against India in only his second T20I and went on to be the Man of the Match in Windies narrow one-run win.

The capabilities of Lewis are unquestionable in T20Is and he is definitely one of the contenders for the Orange Cap this year.

#5 Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell is back to where he started his IPL Career

Maxwell has been undoubtedly the best buy for the Daredevils in the 2018 IPL Auction. He has played 43 T20Is in his career and scored 1072 runs at a blistering strike rate of 165.68.

Maxwell recently gave a thunderous performance in the Trans-Tasman Tri Series, where he was adjudged with the Man of the Series for scoring 233 runs and bagging three wickets.

The Australian has contributed significantly to the Kings Xi Punjab in the past seasons. He has played 57 IPL matches in his career and has scored 1228 runs and bagged 11 wickets.

There is no doubt about the credibility this player. If we look into his recent form, we may witness raining sixes from the Aussie's bat. Maxwell would also be up for the Orange Cup by his thunderous performances.

#6 David Warner

Warner has been a constant threat for bowlers in the IPL

Warner has been one of the indestructible batsmen Australia have ever witnessed. Being the captain of the side, he will be looking forward to winning the title for the second time. Warner has been a threat to all the world-class bowlers.

He has played 70 T20I matches and scored 1792 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 140.11. He also captained the Australian team in the Trans-Tasman Tri Series and ended their campaign as the champions.

Warner also has some impressive statistics in his IPL career. He has played 114 IPL matches and scored 4014 runs at a strike rate of 142.14.

He also has three IPL centuries in his bag. Being the current Orange Cap holder, he would like to retain it by his exceptional performances.

#7 Chris Gayle

Gayle will be up to entertain the spectators with his thunderous performance

If anyone wants to see raining sixes in a match, Gayle would do the job for you. The hard-hitting batsmen the world has ever witnessed will be up to represent a new team.

Gayle has played 55 T20Is in his career and scored 1589 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 145.11. His credibility automatically increases when it comes to IPL. He has played 101 IPL matches and scored 3626 runs at a thunderous strike rate of 151.21.

Gayle has immensely contributed to the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the past seasons. He has five IPL centuries under his name.

Furthermore, how can one forget his knock of 175 runs against the Pune Warriors. Gayle would be looking forward to adding some more centuries in his bag and entertain all the spectators with his performances.

#8 Steve Smith

The Aussie captain is currently dominating all the formats of the game

The Aussie captain is currently dominating all formats of cricket. His captaincy has taken Australia to a different level altogether. His consistency has proved to be very effective for the team in order to win crucial matches.

The No.1 Test batsman has played 63 Tests and scored 6187 runs at a sensational average of 62.49. In his impressive ODI career, he has played 108 matches and scored 3431 runs at an exceptional average of 41.84.

Smith captained the Rising Pune Supergiant last season and took them to the finals where they lost to Mumbai Indians. He has played 69 IPL matches and scored 1703 runs at an impressive average of 37.02. Smith would be looking forward to leading the Royals side and contribute by hitting big runs.

#9 Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis's mature batting has proved to be troublesome for the bowlers

We all know about the capabilities that the South African captain persists. His calm and mature batting has always been a treat for the cricket fraternity and he would be looking forward to continuing his performance in this year's IPL too.

Faf has played 39 T20Is in his career and scored 1191 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 133.22. His credibility automatically increases when it comes to his ODI career. He has played 117 matches and scored 4379 runs at an incredible average of 43.79.

Faf is back for CSK after spending two years with Rising Pune Supergiant. In his IPL career, he has scored 1295 runs in his 53 matches at a decent strike rate of 127.96. Faf would be excited to play for CSK again and would love to live up to the expectations of the team.

#10 Chris Lynn

Lynn is currently suffering from a calf injury

Lynn's participation in this year's edition is uncertain due to his shoulder injury. However, as the team officials haven't given any confirmation for the same, he can be taken into consideration.

His immense contribution to the Knight Riders forced them to but him for Rs. 9.60 Cr in the auction. He is a well built, hard-hitting batsman who has played 10 T20Is and scored 158 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 137.39.

He came into the limelight while playing for KKR in the last season. He scored 384 runs in the 12 matches he played at a thunderous strike rate of 158.02. He was one of the key batsmen for KKR and played a huge role in all of their successes in the last edition.

KKR would be hoping that Lynn would recover from his injury before the IPL starts because his absence can have a great impact on the entire team.