Top Champions League Twenty20 players
October 8, 2009Adam Gilchrist, Do I even need to say anything, He can single handedly demolish any attack
Herschelle Gibbs South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs will play for Cape Cobras in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20. The explosive opener, who is also a member of Deccan Chargers, will not be a part of the Indian contingent, and instead play for his native team.With an impressive strike rate of 129 in Twenty20, Gibbs can blow away any opposition if he gets going.Although his T20 record is not as impressive as his One-day International record, he is a dangerous proposition for opening bowlers.
Daniel Vettori
He is supposed to be New Zealand’s lucky charm. And, to quite an extent, he could well emerge the lucky charm of Delhi Daredevils. The $625,000-player adds variety to the Delhi team with his perfect bowling, and also contributes with the bat. With a good economy rate, he is really handy in the middle overs and can also chip in with useful contributions with the bat.
Ajantha Mendis
The mystery spinner, who impressed in the second season of the IPL Kolkata Knight Riders, will play for Wayamba, under the astute leadership of Mahela Jayawardne. Mendis, who wreaks havoc with his carrom ball delivery, hasn’t played many T20 games, but has shown his class in the limited opportunity he had so far. With 43 wickets in his kitty, and a best if 4/157, the Lankan spinner could be the surprise package of the tournament.
Ross Taylor New Zeland’s backbone is fast emerging on the international firmament as among the best batsman. His 31-ball 81 knock for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kolkata Knight Riders was the best of the IPL season 2. So much so that his strike-rate of 245.45 is the highest in all IPL matches for any batsman scoring a fifty. The Kiwi dynamite boasts a healthy strike rate of 123.29 will be a key player for the Bangalore team.
Tillakaratne Dilshand The ‘Dilscoop’ is an innovation that almost every player is trying with varying degrees of success. And the person responsible for this eponymous innovation remains very much capable of making similar innovations in the days ahead. Tillakeratne Dilshan, in his own words, perfected the shot while practicing for Delhi Daredevils during the second season of the IPL. He is a vital cog in the Delhi side’s scheme of things and relishes the shortest version of the game. Besides excelling in the IPL II, the 32-year-old Sri Lankan came up with a superlative effort in the T20 World Cup in England, emerging the ‘Player of the Series’ with 317 runs in seven matches.
Virender Sehwag’s captaincy can be questioned, but his ability as a batsman better be not. And now that he has relinquished the former role, Delhi fans can expect some fireworks ahead of Diwali. Sehwag’s opening partnership with Gautam Gambhir has given Daredevils many a great start in the first two editions of the Indian Premier League and Delhi fans are hoping for more of the same in the coming days.
Gautam Gambhir
He is the captain-designate of Delhi Daredevils. Apologies, but we need to clarify here that Gautam Gambhir did lead Delhi in some matches in IPL II in Virender Sehwag’s absence and did a pretty decent job at the helm. But it is his batting that his team will be relying on more to give them explosive starts. If both Gambhir and Sehwag do click on the same day, the opposition will be in for some serious trouble.
Brett LeeFresh from his exploits in Australia’s triumphant Champions Trophy campaign, Brett Lee is expected to play a leading hand in New South Wales’ campaign in the upcoming tournament.
The speedster, who did not play much for Kings XI Punjab in the second season of the IPL because of injury, is back to his best with the ball, having developed a range of new skills using the yorker, slower ball and slower bouncer.
In 17 matches the 32-year-old has 17 wickets with a best of 3-37.
Brendon McCullumNew Zealand wicket-keeper-batsman chose against dumping his home side Otago for Australian side New South Wales.
Having turned out for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League he will be looking to prove a point.
He can really be destructive once he gets going at the top of the innings.
How can anyone forget the 158 not out off only 73 balls against Bagalore Royal Challengers in the inaugural match of the first edition of the IPL. The innings is currently the highest score by a batsman in a T20 match.
Andrew SymondsThe most expensive buy of Deccan Chargers, Andrew Symonds enjoyed a decent run of form in both editions of the IPL. The Champions League will serve the 34-year-old as a comeback vehicle to make a mark on the field and improve his tarnished reputation with memorable performances with both, bat and ball.
In 39 T20 matches, including the IPL, Symonds’s highest of 117 not out came against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL in 2008.
With his hard-hitting prowess and match-wining ability, expect fireworks from the big man.
