Potential SA game-changers

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off in Mumbai, India today with the world’s star players on show for the thrilling two month-long event. A number of South Africans will be looking to impress and prove their worth after picking up big contracts for this year’s edition. Ross Roche looks at five players to watch. Kagiso Rabada

Despite a pretty average 2021 campaign by his lofty standards, Kagiso Rabada showed his box office potential by being the highest sold South African at the IPL auction, landing a cool

R18.6 million contract with the Punjab Kings. He has been in top form for the Proteas so far this year in the Test and ODI arenas and he will look to take that form into the 2022 IPL. He will also be targeting a much more consistent showing this season, similar to his efforts in 2020 when he was the purple cap holder.

Faf du Plessis

The evergreen Faf du Plessis at 37-years-old will be under massive pressure at the 2022

IPL after signing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore for

R14.1 million. The pressure will come from who he is replacing in the team, as he steps into the large gap left by the retirement of AB de Villiers last year. He will also be replacing Indian star Virat Kohli as captain for this year’s edition, although Kohli is still in the team and will lend his considerable experience to helping du Plessis ease into the role.

Marco Jansen

Proteas breakout star Marco Jansen will be aiming to make a big impression in his second season of IPL action. The 21-year-old was a surprising pick last year by the Mumbai Indians, where he was sold for R375 000, but ended up only playing twice despite an impressive debut against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. His undeniable talent however has seen the Sunrisers Hyderabad pick him on an R8.4 million contract, a considerable step up from last year, and he is eager to repay that faith.

Dewald Brevis

With the nickname “Baby AB” Dewald Brevis has a lot to live up to. The SA U19 star has burst onto the cricket scene this season after a superb showing at the 2022 U19 World Cup, where he finished as the leading run-scorer and amassed the most runs in the tournament's history. He then enjoyed a solid introduction into senior cricket for the Titans in the CSA T20 competition. At just 18-years-old it remains to be seen if he proves being worth the R6 million shelled out by the Mumbai Indians for his services.

Rassie vd Dussen

Proteas stalwart Rassie van der Dussen at the age of 33 is surprisingly making his IPL debut. Despite his great form for the Proteas over the past few years, Van der Dussen has always been a solid T20 player over his entire career. In both T20 internationals and local T20s he averages over 38, with a strike rate of over 130, and most people would have expected him to have been on the IPL radar years ago. He will finally get his first taste of IPL action after signing for the Rajasthan Royals for R2 million.