Betfair | Chris Gayle, Afridi, Warne, Akhtar and Yuvraj Singh are five to watch in the IPL

Chris Gayle, Afridi, Warne, Akhtar and Yuvraj Singh are five to watch in the IPL

Andrew Hughes handpicks five world superstars to watch out for when the much-awaited Indian Premier League launches in a few weeks time and picks the best bets on offer

Like a looming juggernaut, the IPL approaches, floodlights blazing; a cacophony of roaring crowds and pumping Bollywood soundtracks. Resistance is futile. If you like cricket and are in possession of a pulse, you'll be watching. An assortment of the world's finest players gathered in one place to belt a little white ball deep into the night sky? As the Americans say, what's not to like?

First though, a little warning. Not everyone on the cast list will be appearing after opening night. Slasher Hayden, pig-wrangler Symonds and scowler Ponting may appear in your programmes, courtesy of the cancelled touring production of Waltzing Matilda to Pakistan. But they are all due on stage in Kingston, Jamaica come mid May. Unless they can come up with a reason not to go (the danger posed by falling coconuts perhaps?) none of the Aussie regulars will be around for long. But don't worry. The supporting cast is stellar.

For a start, there is Shane Warne's, lucrative curtain-call as captain of the magnificently titled Rajasthan Royals. One more chance to catch that ambling approach, that grunt of effort on unleashing a fizzing leg-break and that yell of pained disbelief at every run conceded. And if that isn't enough for you, there's the human interest story. Shane never got to be captain of his country, never got to fulfil his dream. He wasn't naughty, he was just misunderstood. He had a play at being captain for Hampshire, but no-one was watching. Now's his chance to show them he could've been the best captain ever, certainly better than that miserable old bugger Waugh.

Yuvraj Singh was Indian cricket's golden boy but lost his lustre during his recent Australian nightmare. The Test team was rearranged to accommodate him but he was swiftly dumped after a string of tortured performances yielded a pitiful seventeen runs in four innings. Yet at his best, he is sublime, a muscular, hard-handed destroyer with a full complement of shots. In case you've forgotten what he can do, have a look at this onslaught on poor Stuart Broad-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bob85WbW8cU

Chris Gayle brings the style to a powerful Kolkata line-up. The only current West Indian player who can evoke the glory years, he gets to showcase his talent at the ninety thousand capacity Eden Gardens. He destroyed South Africa in the opening match of the World Twenty20 last year and this format seems made for his brand of stand and deliver stroke play. Unlike the Aussies, he will be allowed to stay in India until the tournament is over.

His teammate, Shoaib Akhtar is just as compelling. The mile-long run up, the Truemanesque toss of his hair, the addiction to speed, he is the perfect embodiment of the fast bowler, as likely to be found in a nightclub as the practice nets. And he's still the quickest of the quicks. With the ultra-reliable Umar Gul in the same Kolkata line-up, the Rawalpindi Express has the freedom to let rip. His tussle with team mate and rival speedster Ishant Sharma will be enthralling to watch.

Finally, Twenty20 is made for the brutal cameos of Shahid 'Boom Boom' Afridi. This compulsive stroke-player with the broad smile has exasperated and delighted over the years but hasn't changed his simple philosophy of trying to whack every ball for six. He'll thrive on these flat wickets and will relish his role as Hyderabad's strokeplayer in chief when Hayden and Hussey leave.

And while we wait for the show to start, we can get stuck into the winners market. You should steer clear of the [12.5] on offer for Warne's Rajasthan. With both Justin Langer and Morne Morkel deciding to honour their county cricket contracts, their small squad is cut to fourteen and they are low on class in most departments. Hyderabad are favourites at [5.0] but this looks pretty miserly when you remember that Symonds will only feature in five of fourteen matches. Bangalore at [9.4] look more tempting. They have the largest squad of all and a pleasing balance of classy batsmen, hard hitters, quicks and spinners.

18 March 2008 / About Andrew Hughes

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