The 15th season of the IPL is just a month away and with the auction done and dusted, each team has their squads ready for the upcoming season. In the recently concluded auction, many familiar players got deals, but there were also many new players who will be part of the IPL for the first time. Not only Indians, but many overseas players got picked in the IPL for the first time.
Teams have taken a punt on some overseas players who haven’t been part of the IPL previously. The Indian Premier League isn’t an easy place for an overseas player. Yes, there is a lot of money on offer but the franchises want match-winning performances, that too in limited opportunities. If these overseas players don’t live up to the expectations, then they get discarded pretty easily. So, let us have a look at the five overseas players who will be part of the IPL for the first time.
5. Rassie Van Der Dussen
Rassie Van Der Dussen who is from South Africa is one of the overseas players who will be part of the IPL for the first time. He is a middle-order batsman who has done well at the international level over the last 2-to 3 years. He was terrific in the 2019 World Cup for South Africa.
Despite his good performances at the international level, he went unsold in the initial rounds and was picked in the last round by Rajasthan Royals for his base price of 1 CR. RR has a star-studded batting line-up so he might have to warm the benches unless someone is injured or out of touch.
4. Odean Smith
Odean Smith a quick bowler who hits the ball as hard as anyone can hit has got his first IPL deal in the recently concluded Auction. He was brilliant in the last CPL and lately has done well at the international level as well. Some people are touting him as the next Andre Russell.
He bowls with pace and with the kind of muscles he has when he hits the ball ends up in the crowd. Punjab Kings who have built an impressive squad bought him for 6 CR in the 2022 IPL Auction.
3. Romario Shepherd
Another West Indian player is a part of the list of overseas players who will be part of the IPL for the first time. Shepherd is another quick bowler who can hit the ball a long way. In the recently concluded India-West Indies series he was part of the XI in all three matches.
Even though his numbers aren’t great, he has the potential to be a good T20 bowler. He showcased his batting skills in the last T20I against India where he smashed sixes with ease. SRH has paid 7.75 CR for his unproven talent and so we might see him in the XI more often than not.
2. Dewald Brevis
The South African U19 star Dewald Brevis who is also known as Baby AB will be part of the IPL from this season. Mumbai Indians who have an eye for young talent picked him up for 3 CR in the auction. Brevis was the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded U19 World Cup as he scored 506 runs in 6 matches at an average of 84.33.
He was smashing bowlers left, right, and center and even though he hasn’t proved himself at this level many people are confident that he will be a great player. It will be exciting to watch a young player take on some big names in the IPL.
1. Devon Conway
Chennai Super Kings who couldn’t get Faf Du Plessis as their opener bought Devon Conway for his base price of 1 CR. The left-handed batsman from New Zealand was born in South Africa. He made his international debut in 2020 and since then has scored runs heavily in all three formats.
He has an average of 50.17 and a strike rate of 139.35 in T20Is. Being a left-hander, he could make a great combination with Ruturaj Gaikwad, and CSK fans will be excited to see this new opening pair in IPL 2022.
