With the Asia Cup now done and dusted, it’s the right time to look back at how the teams and the players fared in the tournament. Now, it’s not a secret anymore that the Indian Premier League has become the benchmark of T20 cricket in the world and everyone wants to participate in the cash-rich tournament. With many of them already playing in the tournament, there are five talents in particular who can feature in the 16th edition of the IPL.
The scouts of all the teams were eyeing for fresh talent and a lot of them actually caught the eyes of general cricket fans. However, their strike-rate or age factor couldn’t justify selection. For example, Ibrahim Zadran is a solid cricketer but with a career strike-rate of 108.27, he might find it difficult to get in. On the other hand, Ehsan Khan is good but his fitness and consistency will cut him out of the race. Bangladesh’s Mosaddek Hossain has also done well but he still needs to prove himself to make it in the IPL. The T20 World Cup can be his golden ticket.
So, who cuts the chase and is likely to feature in the mega tournament?
List of players who can feature in IPL 2023
5. Kusal Mendis
With 155 runs in the tournament, Kusal Mendis is the sixth leading run-scorer of the Asia Cup. Even though he has a career strike-rate of 126.48 in T20Is, the 27-year-old batted at a strike-rate of 156.56 in the Asia Cup and that is very impressive for an opener.
Now, Kusal can be treated as a floater in T20 cricket as he can bat anywhere in the top order. His flexibility can offer teams various combinations to try in the IPL. His fearless approach will also help his team take the attack to the opposition and teams need that kind of a player in the powerplay.
His wicket-keeping skill also adds to his CV but more importantly, the man can play handsome shots in every part of the ground. If he proves his consistency in the next few tournaments, the 27-year-old might get his first opportunity in the cash-rich league.
4. Pramod Madhushan
The 28-year-old picked six wickets in the tournament and helped Sri Lanka lift their sixth Asia Cup title in history. He played just two matches for the Lankan side in the tournament and absolutely destroyed the Pakistan line-up on both the occasions.
With four wickets in the night of the finals, Pramod showed that he is a man of big occasions. He can keep his calm and deliver match-winning knocks. Now, that is something which is a very important factor in the Indian Premier League. He can leak runs as well and that is one negative thing about him but under the guidance of some of the world class cricketers, Madhushan can definitely get better.
The lad can swing the ball well and has the ability to pick wickets up front. A lot of teams look for this kind of talent who can swing and pick wickets and that’s why Pramod can be a hot favourite.
3. Dilshan Madhushanka
The 22-year-old left arm pacer Dilshan Madhushanka's CV looks just perfect for the Indian Premier League. In the recently concluded Asia Cup, the Lankan speedster picked up 6 wickets from the six matches that he played. He gave away 155 runs from the 20 overs that he bowled and looked good in the majority of his spells.
Just like Pramod Madhushan, Dilshan Madhushanka is good with the new ball. He can get better in the death overs for sure. He might have to work on his batting as, in a tournament like the Indian Premier League, he might have to bat according to the team's needs.
Being a young cricketer, he can also be a surprise package. Now, there’s no doubt that the Indian players struggle against left-arm pacers and thus, bringing in Dilshan can be a good move for any side in the tournament.
2. Najibullah Zadran
The 29-year-old Najibulah Zadran is known for his fearless hitting. His blistering knock of 43 runs of 17 balls against Bangladesh helped Afghanistan qualify for the super four of the Asia Cup.
However, his consistency can be a big point to talk about. If any IPL team is looking for a premium finisher, Zadran can be a player they can go for. He is not someone who’s going to change the game completely but his valuable knocks can decide the fate of the match. A team needs players like him in T20 cricket for sure.
On top of that, he has vast experience of playing T20 cricket all across the globe. The conditions in India will surely suit him and can be a player who adds value in a particular squad.
1. Dasun Shanaka
Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan captain had a marvellous tournament in the Asia Cup. The 31-year-old scored 111 runs from the five matches that he played and also picked up 2 wickets in the tournament. Be it his economy or strike-rate, T20 cricket simply suits him.
Now, with teams always looking for a seam bowling all rounder, Shanaka can be a hot property in the auction table. He has done enough to feature in the IPL and will likely do if he carries on performing the same way he is doing.
Shanaka’s leadership skills will also be a valuable asset for any team. He might not lead a side but every team looks for a player who can add something more. Now, with players not guaranteed of game time, you need characters who can uphold the morale in the dressing room. Shanaka is definitely the guy for that.
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