IPL 2020: All-Stars Game | 3 players who can captain North-East India XI

The 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) will see some interesting additions to the annual cricketing bonanza. While it is confirmed now that the tournament will kick-off on March 29 with the final to be played on May 24 in Mumbai, an All Stars game will also be played for the first time in the IPL, three days before the main event kicks off.

For the All Stars game, the eight teams will be divided into two, comprising of players from four franchises each. One team will have players from North and East India - namely Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Delhi Capitals (DC), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The second team will be a mix of players from Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) - i.e. South and West India.

The move was announced following the IPL governing council meeting in New Delhi earlier this week, attended by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and IPL governing council chairman Brijesh Patel. Let’s take a look at three players from North and East based franchises who can lead the team in the All Stars match.

#3. Eoin Morgan

England’s 2019 World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan can be a strong contender to lead the North-East India XI in the All Stars match. The left-hander was purchased for an impressive amount of INR 5.25 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL 2020 auction. Morgan led Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10 league. With the bat, he amassed 175 runs in just six matches at an excellent strike rate of 186.

Morgan’s IPL career hasn’t kicked off so far. Having represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, KKR, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab over the years in the T20 league, he has scored 854 runs in 54 matches at a strike rate of 121.13 with four fifties. That could change this year with Morgan’s stint at KKR.

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The England captain stunned world cricket with a breathtaking 148 off only 71 balls against Afghanistan in their World Cup encounter at Old Trafford. He has earned the respect of world cricket as a leader, and hence it wouldn't be surprising if he is named leader of North-East India XI for the All Stars match.

Note: All statistics as of February 1, 2020

#2. Shreyas Iyer

Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer can be the dark horse to lead the All Stars North-East India XI. Despite having a senior pro like Shikhar Dhawan in their team, the DC think-tank entrusted the responsibility of leading the side on a young Iyer in 2019, and he did not disappoint.

Under Iyer, Delhi made it to the play-offs for the first time in seven years, eventually going down to Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier. Iyer’s astute and assured captaincy earned him plenty of praise as Delhi finally made an impression after years of under-performing.

The 25-year-old led the way for the team with the bat as well. In 16 matches, he notched up 463 runs at a strike rate of 119.94 and an average of 30.86. Iyer crossed fifty three times in the season. Buoyed by his success in the IPL, Iyer has gone on to do well for India as well, shining at the number four slot in limited-overs games - a position that has been an Achilles' heel for India for a couple of years.

His new-found stardom puts him in contention as a leadership option for North-East India XI in the All Stars match.

#1. Chris Gayle

KL Rahul may have been appointed captain of Kings XI Punjab for the 2020 season, but considering the grand nature of the occasion, the flamboyant Chris Gayle might get the nod to lead the North-East India XI in the All Stars encounter. Gayle has captained West Indies in the past, but more significantly he can add his dash of glamour and inimitable humour as leader.

After he was purchased for INR 2 crore at the 2018 auction by KXIP, there was a feeling that Punjab had perhaps overpaid a player past his prime. However, the West Indian left-hander has not let the franchise down. In 2018, he scored 368 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 146.03 and an average of 40.88. The numbers included one hundred and three fifties.

In the 2019 edition as well, he was reasonably successful with 490 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of 153.60 and an average of 40.83. Gayle hit four fifties in the season with a best of 99 not out. As leader, Gayle can inspire with his performances as well apart from his flair.