IPL 2021 Phase 2: From Ishan Kishan to Eoin Morgan and Marcus Stoinis, 5 players who could benefit from IPL’s return to the UAE – After a long wait, the IPL 2021 will return to the UAE in September for Phase 2 for the tournament. With the second phase set to be held in the UAE, players will have yet another chance to stake their claims for the upcoming T20 World Cup. But for some stars like Ishan Kishan and Eoin Morgan, amongst others, returning to the UAE will be beneficial.
InsideSport takes a look at 5 players, who have struggled in the 1st half and will aim to return in form when IPL 2021 resumes on September 19.
1. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan was one of the standout performers in IPL 2020, earning him a Team India debut. Kishan scored 516 runs last season and was the fifth-highest run-getter of the tournament but his form tailed off in IPL 2021. The Mumbai Indians star played just five games before being dropped from the XI, scoring just 73 runs. Kishan’s strike-rate of 82.95 shows that the 23-year-old struggled to get going at all. A return to the UAE will please him, and he will look to rekindle his old form when he returns to the Mumbai Indians camp.
2. Eoin Morgan
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Eoin Morgan had a forgettable IPL 2021 Phase 1, scoring a paltry 92 runs in seven innings. The England superstar had led from the front during the tournament in UAE last season, scoring 418 runs in 14 games, at a strike rate of 138.41. Morgan’s strike rate dropped to 112.19 this season and the KKR skipper will hope to return back to his best in IPL 2021 Phase 2.
3. Marcus Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis was the stalwart of the Delhi Capitals ide that reached the finals of IPL 2020. The Australian all-rounder scored 352 runs in 17 games, scoring at a strike rate of 148.52 while also chipping in with 13 wickets. This season, Stoinis has just two wickets in eight games, with an economy of 10.90. With the bat, his returns dropped to just 71 runs and will be hoping to turn the tide when he lands in UAE.
4. Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy starred during the IPL 2020 in UAE, and like Kishan earned himself a call-up to the Indian team. Chakravarthy picked up 17 wickets in 13 games with an economy rate of 6.84. While the KKR star hasn’t done too badly in IPL 2021, he picked up seven wickets in seven games, but his economy rate shot up to 7.82. Now a capped Indian player, Chakravarthy will be aiming to replicate his numbers from last season.
5. Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal enjoyed a good IPL 2020 campaign, as he bagged 21 wickets and had the most wickets by a spinner during the tournament. However, the IPL 2021 did not see Chahal at his very best, as the leg-spinner struggled to contain runs and pick wickets. Chahal had four wickets in seven games during Phase 1, at an economy rate of 8.26, and will certainly look to do better especially with the T20 World Cup around the corner.
