IPL 2021 Phase 2: Devon Conway all set to make IPL debut – New Zealand’s newest superstar Devon Conway has been in hot demand following his supreme form with the willow. With a batting average that is hovering over or close to 60 across three formats, the left-hander has attracted a lot of attention from the IPL franchises. Although he was unsold in the IPL 2021 auctions, franchises like Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad could be tempted to get his services.
New Zealand on Tuesday announced its squad for the Pakistan and Bangladesh tours without naming any IPL-bound players. That squad doesn’t include the likes of Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult amongst IPL-bound players. However, the T20 World squad that New Zealand Cricket announced soon after that includes all of them besides Devon Conway, indicating that the late-bloomer is heading to IPL.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: “It’s a pragmatic approach. We’ve always tried to be realistic about the IPL and this particular issue is very much a one-off, caused by a unique set of circumstances,” NZC chief David White said.
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While a lot of franchises were in search of player replacements after England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said it would not allow players due to series against Bangladesh, the tour was postponed, making way for English players’ participation in the IPL.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: Why is Devon Conway sure to make his IPL debut after going unsold?
- With his fantastic performances for New Zealand and in The Hundred.
- He scored a double century on his Test debut and has averaged 63.16 in 6 innings including a double century and two half-centuries.
- In ODIs, he has averaged a staggering 75.00 in three matches including a hundred and a fifty.
- In T20Is, Devon Conway has scored 473 runs in 11 innings including four fifties averaging a brilliant 59.12 with a strike rate of impressive 151.11.
- In The Hundred, he has scored 97 runs in 4 innings.
Also Read: IPL 2021 Phase 2: Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni reaches Chennai ahead of UAE departure
Kolkata Knight Riders: Opener Shubman Gill is doubtful and could even be ruled out of the entire IPL. With Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi Eoin Morgan besides Shubman Gill all misfiring, they need someone up top who can deliver the goods with the bat. Devon Conway is the perfect batsman who can do that for KKR.
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson all have had their ups and downs through the IPL 2021 1st Phase. But it’s Jos Buttler who is doubtful for the entire IPL 2021 Phase 2 as it will be up to the players to take a call on IPL. After the India Test series, if Jos Buttler chooses to come for IPL, he will be in a bio-bubble for nearly five months as it will be followed by T20 World Cup and then Ashes. England players are unwilling to stay longer in a bio-bubble. Jos Buttler is still non-committal and could choose to pull out. That will mean RR will need an opener or a top-order batsman who can score the runs Jos Buttler would have.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kane Williamson-led SRH have had struggled with the opening throughout the IPL Phase 1, putting immense pressure on the middle-order which hasn’t fired either. They have tried multiple combinations with Jonny Bairstow in the middle-order but nothing has worked so far as SRH are languishing at the bottom of the table with just one win in 7 matches. They need to fight back and desperately need a top-order batsman who can score runs. Devon Conway fits in perfectly and Kane Williamson knows how good he is. Conway can rejuvenate an ailing SRH.
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