The Indian Premier League could potentially be held in the United Arab Emirates when it returns from its coronavirus shutdown. This year’s tournament is currently postponed after the rising Covid-19 cases in India. Teams had played up to eight matches of IPL 2021 before the decision was made to halt proceedings. However, organizers hope to restart the event later in the year, potentially with the UAE playing host as it did for the 2020 campaign. While that would be a blow for India’s huge number of cricket fans, there are some stars that might not be too disappointed with a return to UAE.
Here we take a look at players that thrived in those conditions last year.
Kannur Lokesh Rahul – KL Rahul
The Punjab skipper returned home with the Orange Cap in 2020 after topping the run-scorer charts. He has enjoyed another good start to this year’s tournament but is currently behind Delhi’s Shikhar Dhawan in the top batsman table. Rahul was made the pre-tournament favorite with the best IPL betting sites such as Mr. Play to reclaim the award and a switch to the UAE could help him bridge the 51-run gap to his rival.
The wicketkeeper-batsman handled conditions brilliantly last time around as he patiently made 670 runs in 14 matches. He won the Orange Cap by 52 runs despite playing three matches less than Dhawan, who had to settle for second.
Yuzvendra Chahal
The Royal Challengers Bangalore spinner hasn’t reached the heights he managed in 2020 this time around. This year, back in India, he has just four wickets to his name in seven matches, despite the fact the RCB squad started the 2021 campaign in eye-catching form. The pitches in the UAE will likely be much slower than in India and spinners like Chahal and bowlers able to take pace off can have more joy.
This played out in his figures from last year’s tournament when he came fifth in the top wicket-taker table with 21 in just 15 games.
Ravindra Jadeja
The brilliant all-rounder didn’t have the best time in the UAE in 2020 but will still be one to watch if the IPL returns to the middle-east. He suffered as Chennai Super Kings failed to get going in the previous edition but it could be a different story now. Both CSK and Jadeja have surpassed many people’s expectations this year and are enjoying a better tournament.
Jadeja has been at the heart of everything as runs, wickets and some spectacular catches in the field have helped his team’s hopes of a playoff place. There is nothing to suggest conditions in the UAE would halt his form, especially when you consider his impact back in 2014 when the IPL first headed there.
He was fourth in the wicket-taker charts with 19 in 16 matches and added 146 runs in 10 innings.
Ravi Bishnoi
The Punjab Kings’ young spin prospect relished the pitches in the UAE as he stormed onto the IPL scene last year. The 20-year-old was one of the finds of the 2020 tournament as he picked up 12 wickets in 14 matches.
Former India under-19 international Bishnoi proved a tricky customer and took the scalp of Delhi’s Rishabh Pant for his maiden IPL wicket. He had to wait for his chance in IPL 2021 but soon picked up wickets after being handed his opportunity in the Punjab line-up in game four. He plays with confidence and looks to have plenty of improvement still to come. A return to the UAE would only play to his strengths.
