IPL 2018: Players who will reunite in different teams this season- Part II

The Indian Premier League has arguably become one of the most sought-after cricketing competitions in the world. Within 11 years, it has changed the landscape of the game completely. A product of the times we live in, it has bought people from different cultures, backgrounds, thought processes, experiences and skill sets together. Back in the 2000s, who would have thought that someone like Ricky Ponting would be the captain of a side (that too Indian!) that too a side that has Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh!

Great friendships and camaraderie has seen between players who would quite possibly, be rivals when their nations take each other on. This season, many of them have been reunited with a different franchise, having played together in the same team in the past seasons as well.

In the part II of the two-part feature, ere are 9 sets of players whose reunion is bound to excite supporters of their respective franchises:

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#1 Yuvraj Singh and Chris Gayle

These two names evoke fear in even the best of bowlers, especially when they are on song. Yuvraj Singh has played for 5 IPL teams till date, winning one title with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. However, he had featured for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2014 edition of the tournament. And this was the team Chris Gayle had played for as well, from 2011 onwards.

Unfortunately, RCB had finished seventh that season. Yet, they struck up a friendship that has been evident off the field till date. Plus, fans at the Chinnaswamy had their money worth to see Gayle and Yuvi in the same side.

2018 will see a repeat of 2014, albeit in Mohali with Kings XI Punjab. Gayle nearly missed out playing this season, being a 11th hour pick by Punjab. It is expected that Gayle and Yuvraj will provide skipper Ravichandran Ashwin with vital inputs on the field, apart from forming an integral part of a dangerous batting line-up.

#2 MS Dhoni, Imran Tahir and Shardul Thakur

MS Dhoni, Shardul Thakur and Imran Tahir will aim to replicate their RPS success with CSK

The trio impressed while playing together at the Rising Pune Supergiant during the IPL 2017. While Dhoni wasn’t the captain, his well-known ability to think two steps ahead of the opposition and helping out bowlers behind the stumps makes their job easier. Whether it is for a pacer like Shardul Thakur or a leg-spinner like Imran Tahir.

Tahir’s 18 wickets alongside Thakur’s 11 played an instrumental role in the Supergiant’s surge to their only IPL final.

A year later and these three will rub shoulders in the Chennai Super Kings outfit, which will make a return after 2 years. With MSD as captain, Tahir and Thakur would have more to offer for the side and are expected to be given many chances to play.

#3 Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo

Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu were constants for Mumbai Indians till 2017

Chennai Super Kings have got another triumvirate who have played with each other in the past in the competition. After 10 long seasons with the Mumbai Indians, Harbhajan Singh will come down south to Chennai and in all probability, as their leading spin bowler. He would be joined by Rayudu and Bravo, with whom he had played alongside in the IPL 2010. Ironically, that season was the first in which MI made it to the final for the first time ever and lost to CSK.

Much like Bhajji, Rayudu was also made to feel at home at Mumbai for 8 seasons. He will be glad to have some good, old company in a different setup. That should give him lot of confidence, having made a name for himself as one of the most sought-after Indian batsmen in the competition.

While, Bravo had started off his IPL career with Mumbai from 2008-2010, before moving to CSK from 2011-2015 and then Gujarat Lions from 2016-17. With Chennai back in the fold, picking up Bravo during the auction, was a no brainer.

Dwayne Bravo played for Mumbai Indians from 2008-2010 (Image credit: espncricinfo.com)

There is one name not mentioned in this set. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma will also be a CSK player this season, having played with Bhajji and Rayudu in Mumbai’s 2017 IPL-winning side. However, Bravo has never been his teammate earlier.

#4 Chris Woakes, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Colin de Grandhomme and Umesh Yadav

From L to R: Colin de Grandhomme, Chris Woakes, Umesh Yadav, Nathan Coulter-Nile

No.4 and here is a quartet! One is a Kiwi, the other an Englishman, the third an Indian and fourth a Kiwi. Through Colin de Grandhomme, Chris Woakes, Umesh Yadav and Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kolkata Knight Riders ensured that four top cricketing nations were represented equally in the IPL 2017.

A year later, and they would be welcoming each other again, but for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Ironically, these four pacers were amongst all the 10 wickets when KKR defeated RCB in their IPL 2017 match in Kolkata, bowling them for a record low total of 49!

de Grandhomme was renowned for his strike rate being in the 170s. He could shore up the team’s balance, being a valuable option amongst many stars.

Another all-rounder, Woakes’ tremendous white-ball form for England made RCB go for him, much like KKR did last year.

This season will be massive for Umesh Yadav, changing base after a long time. The Indian pacer grew from strength to strength with KKR from 2014-17, while previously playing for Delhi Daredevils.

And lastly, Coulter-Nile’s knack of picking up top order wickets was evident last season and RCB needed an attacking, skilled pacer. This makes them a side to reckon this time, after a poor 2017.

#5 Steve Smith, Jaydev Unadkat, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes and Rahul Tripathi

Steve Smith will have the services of Ben Stokes and Jaydev Unadkat again

High-five indeed! These players can make up half of Rajasthan’s team with ease. The Royals are back this season after a two-year absence, and they went ballistic in the auction. This was so evident when they broke the bank for Ben Stokes (Rs. 12.5 crores) and Jaydev Unadkat (Rs. 11.5 crores). Both of them are the most expensive Indian and overseas players respectively this season. Stokes was the MVP of the IPL 2017 while Unadkat’s 24 wickets ensured that Rising Pune Supergiant were the finalists.

Rahul Tripathi and Ajinkya Rahane were instrumental at the top for RPS in the IPL 2017.

Rahul Tripathi was another youngster who caught the eye of many, with some sterling performances at the top of the order. The opener is all set to partner up with Ajinkya Rahane once again. Rahane was expected to be bought back by the Royals, having made a name for himself at the franchise until 2015. He played alongside Steve Smith back then for the same team, yet these two will be tying up with some of their ex-Rising Pune Supergiant teammates this season. Smith would want to go one step further and lead a talented group of players to the IPL title.

#6 Shane Watson and Kedar Jadhav

Shane Watson and Kedar Jadhav played under Virat Kohli at RCB from 2016-17

Like Smith and Rahane, Watson had to change his base too from 2016-17. During those two seasons, the veteran Australian all-rounder represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore. While he had a torrid time with the bat, Watson’s 20 wickets in the IPL 2016 was instrumental in helping RCB make it to the final.

When it came to batsmen, RCB had Kedar Jadhav as well for the same time period. Jadhav ensured that his strike rate was between 130 and 145, chipping in with contributions down the order.

Yet, both these men have an opportunity to not only reunite, but redeem themselves at the Chennai Super Kings under MS Dhoni’s leadership and Stephen Fleming’s coaching.

#7 Dinesh Karthik and Mitchell Starc

Dinesh Karthik and Mitchell Starc had played for RCB in 2015

This duo featuring in the list may catch you by surprise, but it is the truth. Many eyebrows were raised when Dinesh Karthik was named as Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain for the IPL 2018. This is the sixth team he will be turning up for in 11 years. One of the teams that he participated for, was the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015.

During the same season, Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc picked up 20 wickets in 13 games. His massive effort helped RCB finish third that season. Otherwise, Starc featured in their side in 2014 and did well in it too.

Come 2018, and Starc will be playing not just with Karthik the wicketkeeper, but under his leadership as well for KKR. Karthik’s workload is expected to be much lesser when Starc is on fire.

#8 Pat Cummins and Suryakumar Yadav

Pat Cummins featured in 4 matches for KKR across 2 seasons

Even as the young Aussie pacer, Pat Cummins played for the Delhi Daredevils in 2017, he began his IPL career with Kolkata Knight Riders. He played for them in 2014 and 2015, but could only get to play in 4 matches on aggregate. Cummins shared a place in the side with Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav, who turned out for KKR from 2014-17.

Suryakumar Yadav will shift base from KKR to MI this season (Image credit: NDTV Sports)

Yadav gained a reputation of playing unorthodox shots, chipping in with valuable contributions lower down the order.

Both these men will get a platform to play a bigger role at the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2018. Wiser with experience, they are all set to be worth to watch out for.

#9 Glenn Maxwell and Gurkeerat Singh Mann

Glenn Maxwell and Gurkeerat Singh Mann will shift base from KXIP to DD

Another Australian and Indian pair makes this list. Kings XI Punjab had a huge hand in polishing Glenn Maxwell’s T20 skills, giving him ample of opportunities to be in the playing XI from 2014-17. Maxwell even led the side last season. In 2018, Maxwell was picked up by Delhi Daredevils. And from his former team, he will be joined by batsman Gurkeerat Singh Mann.

While Gurkeerat has played 3 ODIs for India, IPL success eluded him at his time in KXIP from 2015-17. Yet, he has another chance to garner more advice and first-hand knowledge from the likes of Maxwell, who he is expected to be more comfortable with than Ricky Ponting and Gautam Gambhir initially.