IPL 2021: Captains eyeing their maiden IPL trophy

Captains eyeing their maiden IPL trophy

The Indian Premier League has given many cricketers to showcase their talent over the years. Of many players, there were payers who even emerged out to become promising skippers at our resilient and young age. While every captain is giving it all for the silverware to be home, there are few skippers who have nearly glued their eyes to the trophy and going all out to get their maiden trophy home.

Here we list down few skippers who have been eyeing their maiden IPL trophy:

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli ipl

The living legend, Virat Kohli has been named the Royal Challenger Bangalore’s skipper in 2013 and he has been one of the most desperate captains eyeing to win an IPL trophy. While he may be the best with the bat across all three formats, the Indian captain hasn’t had much good luck captaining and helping the team reach the finals.

Under Kohli’s captaincy, the team has climbed the finals staircase only once and has been eliminated in the playoffs twice. Despite the disappointments, the team still stays the favorites of many and always has the hope to win the trophy.

Speaking of this season, RCB is currently 3rd in the points table and has already proven victorious in five out of their seven matches. The team’s batting lineup looks good and balanced with players like AB De Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Devdutt Padikkal, Kohli, Patidar.

Death bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel have been at their best like never before and have one of the very talented spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal, in their kitty.

KL Rahul

The sensational cricketer KL Rahul was given the captaincy baton of Punjab Kings ahead of the 2020 season. While he made a lasting impact with the bat, which even bagged him the orange cap, his personal performance didn’t really help to convert into the team’s performance.

Rahul amassed 670 runs in 14 innings in the last season with the highest score of 132 not out at an average of 55.83. In this season, out of seven matches he played, the Punjab Kings captain has over 330 runs.

Despite the numbers, he still gets the pressure of not leading in the front when it comes to team performances. However, with experienced and skillful players like Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh as the team pillars, the team looks likely to get their maiden cup home.

 

Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan ipl

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Eoin Morgan will be very much keen to make his presence felt in the Indian Premier League. The England legend was purchased by KKR in the IPL 2020 Auction. Previously he was seen playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings.

In 40 matches he played for the KKR, Morgan has amassed 862 runs at 28.73. He has hit three half-centuries with a best of 68*, and 77 boundaries, 40 sixes for Kolkata. His best performance in an IPL season was for KKR in 2020. Morgan scored 418 runs at an average of 41.80 with a decent strike rate of 138.41

His overall IPL career is impressive too. He has played a total of 66 matches in the IPL, with a total score of 1,272 runs at an average of 25.44. He has hit five half-centuries with a best of 68*. And a strike rate of 126.31. He has smashed 104 boundaries and 58 sixes.

Morgan was appointed KKR captain midway in the IPL 2020 season when the team was tumbling down. The World Cup-winning skipper registered two wins, four losses, and a tie in these games with a win percentage of 35.71.

Morgan was also a part of the KKR side that lifted their maiden IPL trophy in 2011 and when SRH lifted the trophy. The upcoming season will be a test of his leadership skills.

 

Sanju Samson

Kerala wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson was named the skipper of Rajasthan Royals for the 2021 IPL season. Samson will be seen with an added responsibility, who finished the previous season as the Royals’ highest run-scorer, with a total of 375 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 158. While last year, Rajasthan finished at the bottom of the points table, and it will be a test for Samson to lift the side from the steep.

Rishabh Pant

rishabh-pant-1200

Rishabh Pant was named the skipper for the Delhi Capitals for half a season now.

Delhi Capitals team were just a game away from claiming their maiden IPL trophy in the 2020 season but were failed in front of the highly experienced, four-time champion Mumbai Indians.

While A lot rests on the young Pant’s shoulder to bring the cup home, the wicket-keeper batsman has managed to keep the team on top of the table in the 8 matches played.

Both openers Shikar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw are in their best form, the middle-order looks pretty strong too followed by a well-balanced bowling attack of spin and pace which comprises Ashwin and Rabada, Pant’s goal might look easier from here.