Five English players to watch in the IPL

The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) started late last month, including a star-studded selection of players from all around the world in what is considered to be the most lucrative and high-quality domestic T20 league on the planet.

This year sees a host of English players participate in the tournament as Jos Buttler’s side continue to spread their wings and showcase their depth in white-ball cricket ahead of this summer’s T20 World Cup.

We analyse five English players to watch out for in this year’s edition.

Will Jacks – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Surrey’s Will Jacks had never featured in the IPL before this year’s tournament, but was snapped up by the RCB and immediately thrown in at number 3 on a batting card that includes some of the greats of the game.

After a slow start, Jacks has since announced his name on a global scale in white ball cricket by blasting his maiden T20 century off 41 deliveries against Gujarat Titans in match 45. His ability with the ball as well makes him a serious contender to start for England in this summer’s T20 World Cup and could serve as a like-for-like replacement for the out-of-form Liam Livingstone.

Phil Salt – Kolkata Knight Riders

Lancashire’s Phil Salt has really established himself as one of the most eye-catching openers in white-ball cricket over the past year. After being snapped up by the Knight Riders to replace fellow Englishman Jason Roy in this year’s auction, Salt has smashed four 50s in nine innings at the time of writing, placing him fifth on the Orange Cap leaderboard.

What makes Salt stand out is his brutal strike rate of 180, which is higher than anyone in the top seven in the Orange Cap leaderboard. With his consistent ability to start quickly and put bowlers on the back foot, he is arguably the most in-form of England’s opening options ahead of this summer’s World Cup and has formed a formidable partnership at the top of the KKR order with makeshift opener Sunil Narine.

Jos Buttler – Rajasthan Royals

England white-ball captain Jos Buttler was retained by the Rajasthan Royals despite some lean form in both international and domestic T20 cricket over the past 12 months. Buttler’s 863 runs in 2022’s tournament was the second highest run tally in a single season in IPL history and he’ll be attempting to recapture that form for a Royals side that look the team to beat after the opening five weeks of this year’s tournament.

Away from the IPL, Buttler is certainly considered to be one of cricket’s global superstars. He captained and opened the batting for England during their T20 World Cup win in Australia and has made several eye-catching contributions to their ODI side in his illustrious career in the short form of the game. He’ll be hoping he can repeat 2022’s heroics for the Royals, who have transformed the quality of their squad since the 2022 mega auction.

Sam Curran – Punjab Kings

There were questions about whether Sam Curran would get into England’s starting XI during the T20 World Cup last November. Not only did he end up starting for them, he was awarded player of the tournament for his performances, including a man-of-the-match display in the final against Pakistan.

The left-armer isn’t particularly fast or tall for a bowler, but has developed a wonderful array of tricks and variation to enhance his bowling approach, whilst he can certainly hit a ball long as well. Curran signed for Punjab Kings in last season’s edition after a bidding war between six teams for £1.85m – eclipsing Chris Morris to make him the most expensive player in the history of the tournament at the time.

Curran has also been in bright form in this year’s tournament – only seven bowlers have taken more than his 12 wickets and he’s even captained the Punjab Kings in Shikhar Dhawan’s absence.

Jonny Bairstow – Punjab Kings

Another English wicketkeeper who has had an inconsistent year of white ball cricket is Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow. YJB found himself in the form of his life in the summer of 2022 amidst the backdrop of England’s ‘Bazball’ revolution, but a freak leg break towards the end of the season has left him playing catch up for the past 18 months or so.

Bairstow initially started this season’s IPL in apprehensive fashion, often failing to break double figures with a strike rate below 100. However, match 42 saw him blast a rapid 45-ball unbeaten century to help the Punjab Kings complete the highest T20 chase in the history of the game. Bairstow is a proud character and will be hoping he can keep up that form into the English summer and beyond.