IPL 2019: 4 key talking points ahead of the 12th edition

#1 Return of Steve Smith and David Warner

Warner and Smith return

One of the biggest talking points of 2018 was the ball-tampering saga in Capetown. The Australian public and the whole cricketing fraternity were in complete shock after Steve Smith confessed to tampering in a Test match against South Africa.

Cricket Australia decided to ban Cameron Bancroft for nine months and an even stricter punishment of one year was imposed on David Warner and Steve Smith. Although they played in other leagues, IPL governing council did not let both Warner and Smith feature in the 2018 edition. Warner, in particular, is an IPL legend and his leadership abilities inspired Sunrisers Hyderabad to the title win in 2016. Even Smith is a vital part of Rajasthan Royal's cog

Both Warner and Smith are now back in the fold with Hyderabad and Rajasthan respectively. It will be interesting to see how Indian fans react to them as they play cricket for the first time in this part of the world since the infamous incident.

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