Top 5 all-rounders to watch out for in Indian T20 League 2023

Ravindra Jadeja & Hardik Pandya (Image credit: Twitter)

Fans recently witnessed a thrilling inaugural edition of the Women's T20 League, and their adrenal glands have no time to rest as the men take to the field from March 31 in the 16th edition of the Indian T20 League. The ITL 2023 kicks off on Friday when defending champions Gujarat take on four-time champions Chennai at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Ahead of the new season, management and players have joined their respective franchises to lift the coveted trophy by putting on a dazzling display for their fans on the field. Here we invite you to

Look at the top 5 all-rounders who can shine in the two-month-long tournament:

1. Ben Stokes (Chennai)

Chennai had a poor season last year, finishing second last in the points table. Having bagged the services of England Test captain Ben Stokes for INR 16.25 crore in ITL Auction, the former champions looks set to clinch their fifth ITL title this time. Stokes, one of the best all-rounders currently, has played 43 matches in ITL and he has managed to score 920 runs with a strike rate of 134.50.

There are rumours that this will be Chennai skipper MS Dhoni's last ITL season as a player. If that happens, the franchise has got the right candidate to replace him in the form of 31-year-old Stokes. He can lead the team and also play the role of finisher.

2. Sam Curran (Punjab)

The English all-rounder grabbed eyeballs in the 2023 ITL auction after Punjab spent a huge amount of INR 18.5 crores to acquire his services. The most expensive player in the history of ITL last played with Chennai in 2021 and had a decent outing with them.

Curran has played 32 matches in the cash-rich league and scored 337 runs at an average of 22.47 with a strike rate of 149.78. He has also picked up 32 wickets with an economy of 9.21. With the Player of the Tournament for the T20 World Cup 2022 in their squad, Punjab will aim to lift their maiden ITL title this season.

3. Hardik Pandya (Gujarat)

Everyone raised eyebrows when Gujarat captained Hardik Pandya, but the star all-rounder led his team to ITL glory in their inaugural edition of the franchise T20 league. He led Gujarat from the front by scoring 487 runs and picking up eight wickets. He never lets the pressure affect his game, making him the most destructive batter in the upcoming season of the ITL.

4. Cameron Green (Mumbai)

The Aussie young gun Cameron Green is the second most expensive purchase in the league after Sam Curran. Mumbai broke the bank by shelling out Rs 17.50 crore, but there will be no regrets as he can deliver match-winning performances for the team. The 23-year-old, who recently scored his maiden Test century against India, is gearing up for his maiden ITL season.

5. Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai)

Having a player like Ravindra Jadeja in the squad is a boon for any team irrespective of the format of the game. The veteran stands out from other all-rounders with his excellent bowling, batting and fielding prowess. The 'three-dimensional' player has scored 2,502 runs and taken 132 wickets in the ITL and has been a huge asset for the Chennai franchise for many years.