Watch out for SA’s best in IPL

The 2023 IPL promises to be the best iterations of the tournament yet, with almost every single one of the brightest talents in the T20 game playing in India.

With the IPL auction being one that was as ruthless as it was exciting, there are a number of South African players that we can look forward to seeing in India, but which should you look out for?

We have taken a look at all of the South African talent on offer and picked our three South African players to watch out for in IPL 2023.

Rilee Rossouw (Delhi Capitals – 4.6 crores)

Rilee Rossouw was signed for the Delhi Capitals for 4.6 Crores, and he will play alongside teammates Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi, and world class talents in David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and Phil Salt.

Rossouw will likely bring the feast or famine type of scores that have become the norm when he plays for his national team. The batsman can often be seen dealing out harsh punishment to poor bowling in the middle, with his ability to launch a long ball to any part of the ground an invaluable trait in a batsman.

However, he can quite often struggle for form and go through a few games without really scoring. The ruthless nature of the IPL means that Rossouw will need to ensure that his lower scoring games are few and far between, or he may have to sit on the bench.

Despite this, the 33-year-old will be looking to really make a name for himself with the Delhi Capitals. His off-break bowling option may also come into its own when overs are needed to be filled, although DC will have bought the destructive batsman for his exploits with the bat, rather than the ball.

David Miller (Gujarat Titans – 3 crores)

David Miller is a player that can turn a match on its head in a matter of seconds and it is no surprise that he regular tops the betting odds and markets to be the top scorer in games.

The 33-year-old has done a brilliant job of making himself an integral part of South Africa’s limited overs teams, while he is also handy when a captain needs a few spare overs bowled, with his right-arm off-breaks an option.

He has already thrilled with the bat in India, with his most recent stint coming with the Rajasthan Royals. This came after a long spell with the Punjab Kings between 2012-2019. In T20s, Miller boasts a very impressive average of 34.62, while he has also notched up two centuries.

He was able to put his destructive power on full show in South Africa’s recent ODI series with England as he smacked a match-winning score of 58 from 37 which included two fours and three sixes in the second ODI. Ultimately, Miller will likely be used as a finisher for the Titans, and he is the type of batsman that the opposition know will hurt them if he is allowed to get going.

Tristan Stubbs (Mumbai Indians – 20 lakhs)

For just 20 Lakhs, Tristan Stubbs is an absolute bargain. Of course, he is still fairly untested, but the 22-year-old has shown that he is a real force with the bat in the shorter formats of the game. He was signed by the Mumbai Indians for the IPL in 2022 before being retained, and he will be able to provide runs and a real presence in the field as he is an athletic player and a capable wicketkeeper.

Only time will really tell whether Stubbs will be the star many believe his early performances have suggested. However, this IPL will likely help his development as a player massively. Just being a part of a squad that plays against world-class talent in packed stadiums will be a massive step for Stubbs.

Most importantly will be the players he can learn from. Mumbai Indians’ captain Rohit Sharma is one of the best batsmen in the world, with Suryakumar Yadav and Cameron Green also having huge experience. Lining up against world-class bowlers such as Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah in the nets will also aid his development massively.