IPL: Top contenders to score a ton for their respective franchises

With over 600 matches in a span of ten years, Indian Premier League has given its viewers across the globe numerous occasions of delight. A league that boasts of having the best players in the business, has certainly lived up to the faith invested by the fans over these years. With the league on the cusp of entering into the second decade, there are a lot many things that one can expect given an entire change of face for the new looking eight teams that marks the beginning of the 11th edition.

After shuffling of players in this year's auction, every franchise has managed to establish a solid top three that can flourish at the top of the order. Given the dynamics of the T20 format, it becomes essential for every team to go hard at the opposition in the power play and get the flow of runs going in order to lay the foundation for a mammoth total. Here's a look at some of those hard hitters who are the top contenders for registering the maiden ton for their teams in this year's IPL.

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#8 Sunrisers Hyderabad - Manish Pandey

The explosive middle-order batsman who was bought by the Hyderabad-based franchise for a whopping INR 11 crore, is an obvious choice to be one in this list from Hyderabad. Pandey has been in sublime touch as his recent exploits in South Africa and Nidahas Trophy speak volumes of his stature as a batsman in T20 format. He would be eager to join the orange army and justify his auction price by smacking few top-notch scores this year.

He was also the first Indian to score a century in IPL in its second edition in 2009 in the Rainbow nation. A veteran in T20, who has shifted his base from Kolkata played some remarkable match-winning innings for the men in Purple at No.3. He would now also be the key in Sunrisers' batting line up after the departure of David Warner as the franchise would count on him to hold the middle-order for the team. The onus now lies on Manish along with the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan and Kane Williamson to take the team towards the business end of the tournament.

#7 Kolkata Knight Riders - Chris Lynn

The hard-hitting Australian batsmen, Chris Lynn who has the might to huge sixes, will be a key factor for the Karthik-led KKR side. Lynn, who has been in and out due to injuries would be hoping to stay fit for the entire season so as to blaze apart the oppositions in every possible game. He is expected to open for the team with either of Sunil Narine or Robin Uthappa.

His previous outings with the bat in the IPL are enough to justify his talent with the bat as he boasts to have a top score of 93. Lynn, who is coming from an injury sustained in the recently concluded PSL, is known to go after the bowlers from the ball one. The team will rely heavily on him and can expect him to get few paramount scores to propel a good start for Kolkata. The franchise invested a lot of faith in him as he was bought back in the auction for a hefty amount of INR 9.60 crore. Given his form with the bat, players like Lynn need a game or two to turnaround things for them and thereafter can be as dangerous as possible.

#6 Rajasthan Royals - D' Arcy Short

One of the most promising prospects from Australia, D' Arcy Short in no time has earned himself a name of a flamboyant T20 player. Representing the Hobart Hurricanes in Big Bash League, Short scored a magnificent 122* to register the highest individual score in the history of the league.

He indeed was a smart buy for the Royals as the little man can be expected to go big in his maiden IPL stint. He is likely to bat in the top three and is one of the front-runners for amassing big scores in the league. His ability to hit the ball hard and clear the fence with ease makes him a reliable T20 player. Rajasthan would be relying on him to provide them the much-needed firepower at the top of the order so as to tear apart the opposition bowlers. He thus becomes an important overseas player after the departure of Steve Smith.

#5 Kings XI Punjab - KL Rahul

There's no better T20 Indian player at the moment other than KL Rahul. The traditional opener who plays the extension of his shots from the Test cricket is a delight to watch when on song. Playing for RCB and SRH in the previous editions, the Bengaluru boy didn't get enough opportunities to bat up the order but a promotion for him in the batting order is on the cards this time around.

He is one of the core players from the Kings' batting point of view and one of the three Indians to score a century in all of the three formats of the game. The wicket-keeper batsman who was roped in for INR 11 crore by the Kings, is believed to be there trump card for this season. He has the knack of playing big innings and that too at a lot quicker rate. He is likely to open for Punjab and may look to count on this season to play the aggressor's role for the men in red.

#4 Delhi Daredevils - Colin Munro

The fiery Kiwi opener is the most successful T20 batsman in terms of mustering scores in excess of hundred. The southpaw, who has the highest number of T20I centuries in world cricket is a massive asset to this star-studded Delhi batting line up. Although in his four matches played for KKR in IPL so far, he hasn't justified his talent with the top score of a mere 16.

Munro was a cheap buy for the team form the capital considering his recent form with the bat in T20 cricket. He is the only cricketer to hit two T20I centuries in a single season with a total of three against his name. Considering his ability to get the better of the bowlers more often than not, Delhi would be hoping some big scores from the left-handed batsman. With the likes of Maxwell and Pant also in the squad, Munro can still be banked upon to come good for the Daredevils in this year's IPL as the top contender for scoring a ton for his franchise.

#3 Chennai Super Kings - Suresh Raina

This player has been the Mr. IPL for all those years he has represented the men in yellow. Now when he comes back to the fore for CSK, one would hope Raina to go big in the upcoming tournament. It shouldn't be a daunting task for Raina, given his recent approach in T20s to attack the bowlers from the beginning asserts his fans with a ray of hope. Also, till IPL 7, Raina was the only player to score 400 runs in each edition of this cash-rich league.

Raina is likely to bat up the order at number three and there are none better than him who can be banked upon to muster those daddy scores of a hundred even in a T20 game. Though, the age has become a factor for Mr.IPL but his recent hit into the form with good scores in South Africa does provide a sense of assurance. The men in yellow would be hoping to see the old Raina entertain the fans at Chepauk and win matches for his side in his own style of batting.

#2 Royal Challengers Bangalore - Virat Kohli

He is undoubtedly the world's current best batsman in all the three formats. The Indian skipper has been in the form of his life in past few months. He also boasts to be the highest run-getter in a single edition of IPL. Being the second highest run-getter in IPL history, Kohli is a force in the reckoning.

Virat Kohli is the only batsman in the history of the league to score four centuries in a single edition. There couldn't be a better technically sound player when it comes to batting. His ability to win matches single-handedly has been the cause of worry for many opposition captains. He bats high up the order and scores runs with a healthy strike rate even with proper cricketing shots. He is one of the key players for RCB given his might to go till the end and muster scores in excess of hundred that can propel his side to match winning totals.

#1 Mumbai Indians - Evin Lewis

The hard-hitting Carribean southpaw, who will be making his IPL debut for the most successful franchise in the history of the league can prove to be a worthy buy for Mumbai considering his exploits with the bat in the shortest version of the game.

Evin Lewis, who can tonk the ball hard, was viewed by many as the next Chris Gayle from the Carribean soil. The left-handed bat is reckoned as a perfect match in T20 cricket for his skills to go after the bowlers. He is most likely to open the batting for Mumbai and is expected to convert his quick fiery knocks into some huge scores that can propel the side to match winning totals. Lewis has two centuries to his name in T20Is and his newest franchise would be hoping for him to come good in his maiden IPL stint. He has the knack of scoring centuries at will and no one can forget him amassing 30 runs off the Stuart Binny over against India at Kingston.