IPL 2021: South African star Aiden Markram replaces Dawid Malan at Punjab Kings

South African stalwart Aiden Markram is set to make his IPL debut for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the upcoming UAE leg of the 2021 season. The stylish right-handed batsman will replace England's Dawid Malan in the team.

Dawid Malan was part of the recently-concluded Test series between India and England. He, like a few other English players, has pulled out of the IPL season to spend some time with his family before this year's Ashes. Malan, who is also the ICC's top-ranked T20I batsman, played just one game in the first half of the tournament, scoring a run-a-ball 26 against the Delhi Capitals (DC).

The Punjab Kings announced Aiden Markaram's inclusion shortly after confirming Dawid Malan's absence. The franchise wrote in a statement on Twitter:

"𝘼𝙞-𝙙𝙚𝙣 vich tuhadda swaagat hai! Welcoming our newest [Lion] Aiden Markram who will replace Dawid Malan for the remainder of the season!"

𝘼𝙞-𝙙𝙚𝙣 vich tuhadda swaagat hai! 👋🏻Welcoming our newest 🦁 Aiden Markram who will replace Dawid Malan for the remainder of the season! 😍#SaddaPunjab #IPL2021 #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/OJMW3QEwW1

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 11, 2021

Aiden Markram has often been touted as a potential South African captain. The 26-year-old has played over 83 internationals for the Proteas, scoring over 3000 runs across all formats.

A strong back-foot player, Aiden Markram is equally adept against pace and spin, and holds almost every cricketing shot in his armory. His cover-drives can match that of Virat Kohli's, while his square-cuts are among the crunchiest in the world.

Aiden Markram in T20s

Aiden Markram was adjudged the Player of the Match for his brilliant innings of 48 from 33 balls 👏#SriLanka #SouthAfrica #aidenmarkram #SLvSA pic.twitter.com/EdxTux6DZ6

— Sportskeeda India (@Sportskeeda) September 10, 2021

Aiden Markram's maiden IPL call-up has come hot on the heels of South Africa's brilliant series win over West Indies. He was the third-highest run-scorer in the series and impressed everyone with his brisk knocks under pressure.

Overall, he has played 13 T20Is for South Africa, amassing 405 runs at an average of just under 34 and a strike rate of exactly 150. He has also featured in 57 T20 games in the domestic arena, scoring over 1400 runs in them at a strike rate of 128.24.

The franchise is likely to use him as a stable anchor in the top-order, which already consists of match-winners like KL Rahul, Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran.