Cricket’s biggest showstopper, the Indian Premier League (IPL) gets underway this weekend in Kolkata.
There will once again be a fair representation of South Africans at jamboree that will ziz-zag across the subcontinent with 10 teams playing in 13 cities.
Independent Media’s Zaahier Adams takes a closer look at which teams the South Africans will be representing this IPL season.
GUJARAT TITANS: Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee
Having played 80 matches since his debut back in 2017, Rabada is a seasoned IPL veteran. The Proteas superstar has claimed 117 wickets at an average of 21.97 and will bring considerable experience and class to the 2022 champions after moving from Punjab Kings for R23.05 million.
The Titans will be hoping that Rabada’s Proteas teammate Coetzee has recovered from his injuries. Coetzee missed large parts of the international season, which saw him miss the recent ICC Champions Trophy, and the Betway SA20. The young fast bowler has previously been part of the Rajasthan Royals squad and played for Mumbai Indians last season.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje
The defending champions have bolstered their squad with two superstars South Africans De Kock and Nortje. De Kock remains one of the most explosive batters in the world despite not playing international cricket any longer and brings the quality of being a previous IPL winner with Mumbai Indians to the Knight Riders.
Like Coetzee, Anrich Nortje has played precious little cricket due to injury having also missed the ICC Champions Trophy and Betway SA20, but the Knight Riders will be hoping he can add his express pace to their attack.
MUMBAI INDIANS: Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch
Fresh from winning the Betway SA20 with the MI Cape Town, Rickelton and Bosch will be hoping to add to that success with big brother Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Exciting things are expected from Rickelton after two superb SA20 seasons with MI Cape Town and he is also currently in a rich vein of form on the international stage. Bosch, meanwhile, was called up as an injury replacement for fellow Proteas fast bowler Lizaad Williams.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD: Heinrich Klaasen and Wiaan Mulder
The Sunrisers broke the bank to retain Proteas big-hitter Klaasen at a mega R49.3 million. They will therefore have huge expectations to reclaim their investment, piling the pressure on Klaasen to perform. Klaasen has, however, shown numerous times that he thrives on the big stage, striking 993 runs at an average of 38.19 and strike-rate of 168.31 over the course of his IPL career. Mulder, meanwhile, has been rewarded for his consistency over the last couple of seasons with his first IPL call-up.
DELHI CAPITALS: Tristan Stubbs, Faf du Plessis and Donovan Ferreira
Du Plessis remains fit and fabulous at 40 and is gearing up for his 13th IPL season after enjoying stellar careers at both Chennai Super Kings and Royals Challengers Bangalore previously. The former Proteas skipper shifts to the Indian capital for the first time this season and will add considerable pedigree to the Delhi squad. Stubbs, meanwhile, has seen his value soar at the IPL after a breakout season last year was retained for close to R21.5 million. The exciting youngster will hope to build on last season’s performance. Ferreira has shifted from a couple of seasons at Rajasthan Royals and will be hoping for more game time at Delhi.
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS: Aiden Markram, David Miller and Matthew Breetzke.
Proteas T20 captain Markram has shifted across from Sunrisers Hyderabad to Lucknow Super Giants this season. Markram captained the Sunrisers in 2023, but saw him slip down the pecking order after his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins arrived last year for a record-breaking fee. He will be looking to resurrect his IPL career at Lucknow. Miller, meanwhile, was surprisingly not retained by the Gujarat Titans after arguably enjoying his best period in the IPL at the Titans. Instead, the veteran of 130 IPL matches, will start afresh with the Super Giants. It certainly is a fresh opportunity for the stylish Breetzke who will be hoping to make his IPL debut this year.
PUNJAB KINGS: Marco Jansen
The leading wicket-taker in Betway SA20 history remains a much-sought after acquisition at the IPL. He was actively pursued by Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting at the auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with the Australian legend saying he was prepared to go higher than the R14.9 million that eventually won the bid. Jansen is a quality new-ball bowler and his big hitting lower down the order will be invaluable.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS: Kwena Maphaka
The Proteas teen sensation is back for his second season at the IPL after debuting for Mumbai Indians last season. Having played for the Paarl Royals in the Betway SA20, it was a natural transition to Rajasthan for the 18-year-old left arm seam bowler. It certainly will be exciting to watch Maphaka bowl in tandem with England superstar Jofra Archer.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE: Lungi Ngidi
After spending many years at Chennai Super Kings before moving to Delhi, Ngidi has now transferred to the mighty RCB. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is a graveyard for bowlers, but Ngidi’s expert use of slower balls and cutters will certainly come in handy.
