(Cricket news) With the IPL starting from tomorrow and this season there are 10 teams, which means more talented batsmen will have to step up to the mantle and prove their worth to the team. Let's take a look at the batters who have the ability to change the game single handedly. 

Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The newly-appointed Kolkata Knight Riders captain can single-handedly turn any match on its head. The Mumbaikar, has played 87 IPL matches and has scored 2,375 runs and will be eager to prove a point in his new role with his new team who have heavily invested in him. His ability to soak pressure and play a fearless brand of cricket makes him one of the best in business like we saw in the recently concluded Sri Lanka T20 series and the added fact of playing on home grounds will give him an added edge. The 27-year-old Indian batter has played 4 Tests, 26 ODIs and 36 T20s, as he is slowly proving his worth in this Indian setup. Going into the tournament he’s in terrific form and is certainly going to be in the reckoning for the orange cap.

Devon Conway (Chennai Super Kings)

Devon Conway was a very under the radar buy from the CSK management as they signed the New Zealand batter for Rs 1 crore in the mega auction. He had a terrific start to his international career as the southpaw has represented New Zealand in 7 Tests, 3 ODIs and 20 T20Is. He has since scored 767, 225 and 602 runs respectively. The southpaw has already slammed 3 centuries, 3 fifties, 1 double ton in the longest format. On the other hand, he slammed 1 century and 1 fifty in 7 ODI’s whereas he slammed 4 fifties in T20Is. He’s likely going to be Faf’s replacement at the top of the order, as he along with last year's orange cap winner Ruturaj Gaikwad can form a formidable open partnership.

David Warner (Delhi Capitals)

Ever since his dismal IPL last year, Warner has been in terrific form especially in the shortest game as he helped Australia lift their first T20 World Cup by scoring the most runs in the tournament. The swashbuckling opener returns to Delhi Capitals, from where he started his IPL journey. His experience of playing in 150 IPL matches and amassing 5,449 runs in the tournament will play a major part in Delhi’s success. He has four hundreds and 50 half centuries in the shortest format of the game. The added advantage of not having any captaincy pressure, will be to play more freely and his role would be vital for his side. He along with Prithvi Shaw can form one of the most destructive opening pairs this season.

KL Rahul (Lucknow SuperGiants)
 
KL Rahul is set to lead one of the newest IPL teams, Lucknow SuperGiants (LSG) this year. Having led PBKS in the past seasons, the captaincy is not new to Rahul. He had been leading run scorer for the PBKS in the past two seasons of the tournament. Although Rahul had been one of the most consistent hitters in the side, his inconsistent performances from the PBKS' middle-order often forced him to score big but a new season with a new team can spring some better fortune for him. This season, the LSG management have given him a very good team to captain and this will reduce the added pressure of scoring the majority of runs, this means that he can play freely and showcase his array of batting skills. He will bat alongside De Kock who over the years has become the most dependable openers for any team he has played.

Faf Du Plessis (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The newly appointed captain of RCB has a big challenge to lead the side to their maiden IPL trophy this year and will hopefully take that added pressure and score some valuable runs for his team. In IPL 2021, he ended as the second-highest run-scorer with 633 runs at a strike rate of nearly 140. Heading into the tournament, Faf has been in terrific form, scoring runs across the continent and the added fact of the tournament being held at Mumbai, a ground that he loves playing, will surely be an added advantage for this RCB side. Faf will surely be in the orange cap reckoning as he has point to prove to all those eagerly waiting RCB fans who are saying “Ee Sala cup Namde”.

Also read: What will be Ravindra Jadeja's biggest captaincy challenge?