The most prominent T20 league in the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL), has brought together athletes from different nations and cultures. The majority of the Australian team for the T20 international series against Team India played in the lucrative franchise league.
It goes without saying that after competing in the IPL, international opponents have forged friendships. These relationships have increased the entertainment value of on-field combat while also giving the game a new tactical and planning dimension.
The India-Australia T20I series, which gets underway today in Mohali, may be ignited by these three IPL friendships.
Aaron Finch and Virat Kohli received honourable mentions.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell are teammates at the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and they have developed a friendship over the course of several IPL seasons. Despite playing for opposite teams now that Chahall is with the Rajasthan Royals, the two are frequently spotted making fun of one another.
Regarding Chahal, Maxwell stated the following last year:
“We first shared a team with the Mumbai Indians in 2013. Consequently, our friendship dates back a long time. Since then, we have remained close. We get the same sensation every time we cross paths. Before the game, a big hug. While I’m on the ground, I’m toying with him and holding him in a headlock while he bowls and I bat.”
In the middle overs, Chahal vs. Maxwell will be a crucial matchup to watch out for. The unconventional Australian batsman was struck out five times by the leg-spinner in 13 T20 innings, yet Maxwell still manages to hit 178.37 against him.
Two of the top T20 bowlers in the world right now are Josh Hazlewood and Harshal Patel, partners on the RCB. While Hazlewood has become into a tremendously good all-format pacer, Harshal is only recently making his injury recovery and hasn’t yet lit up the T20I scene with his efforts.
Despite the fact that their competition may not be as blatant as the other two on the list, Harshal and Hazlewood will still have something to prove. The Australian speedster will have his work cut out for him in conditions that could not be very helpful for him with the new ball, while the former will want to secure his position in the Indian team before players like Arshdeep Singh.