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They’re coming home
They’re coming home
These players are coming home
Faf du Plessis, Ravichandran Ashwin → Chennai Super Kings
They both started their career for the five-time IPL winners, and it might not be too wild a thought to see them back in yellove! There’s also a strong rumour that Ashwin could return to CSK, given how effective he has been at Chepauk, with 90 wickets for the Men in Yellow.
And then there’s Faf du Plessis, who has represented CSK in 92 matches. In those matches, he amassed 2,721 runs, including a 633-run season in 2021, when he forged an unforgettable partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad in a title-winning season. At 40, he’s perhaps young enough to be in the CSK camp.
Shreyas Iyer → Delhi Capitals
In terms of homecomings, there can’t be a better script than Shreyas Iyer. Until a year ago, it felt like Iyer and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a sweet chemistry. But once the 2024 IPL-winning franchise decided to let him go, the rumour mills started churning out pieces of content for fun.
One such rumour that could be true is Iyer returning to Delhi Capitals. Remember all those years back (2021), he was one of Delhi’s vital cogs. Delhi need a captain, Iyer is on the market? Wow, connect the dots, please!
Alzarri Joseph → Gujarat Titans
With 14 wickets and plenty of happy memories at Gujarat Titans, there’s a strong chance that Alzarri Joseph could return to the Titans. There can’t be a better time for Joseph to return to Titans, with 18 wickets in the year, with an ER of 8.5.
While he might have picked up just one wicket in his last stint for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he might just bolster Gujarat’s bowling unit.
Avesh Khan → Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow, like Gujarat, are a new franchise. So, finding possible homecomings is as tough as finding trophies on RCB’s shelves. But Avesh Khan’s performance over the last year has been such that there’s a strong chance that LSG would want him.
Avesh was quite successful at LSG, with 26 wickets, averaging 26. So, it won’t be a bad homecoming.
Rahul Tripathi, Piyush Chawla → Kolkata Knight Riders
There are homecomings, nostalgia, and then a mix of both, like Piyush Chawla in a KKR jersey. Holy smokes. I can remember every bit of that. Those winning runs in the IPL final against then KXIP. Who knows? There’s a strong chance that it could happen, considering his form over the last two years.
KKR are searching for an opener? They wouldn’t have to look that far away, given Rahul Tripathi is right there. An able opener and quite a handy No.3 as well; he ticks boxes so perfectly. Plus, he’s an Indian batter.
Krunal Pandya, Jos Buttler → Mumbai Indians
Consider this logically and emotionally: Jos Buttler back at Mumbai Indians is a move made in heaven. Opener tick, wicketkeeper tick and a solid move, of course, tick! Forget all the numbers here. Just think about the prospect of watching Buttler and Rohit Sharma open the batting. Sweet dreams are made of this!
What’s one area that MI struggled massively over the last two years? Spin. That’s where having someone like Krunal back will make a lot of sense. Plus, now that Hardik is at the wheel, why not have the nostalgia factor back? One family.
Glenn Maxwell, David Miller → Punjab Kings
You read that right! Glenn Maxwell back to Punjab Kings. A pretty controversial move, it would be. But if it happens, there’s a good chance that Maxwell 3.0 could be the deal-breaker for Punjab, especially with Ricky Ponting now at the helm.
Maybe there’s also room for someone like David Miller, whose experience could be invaluable for a franchise that hasn’t won the IPL title yet. Miller is back in those Punjab silver kit; let’s go…..
Jofra Archer → Rajasthan Royals
Last we heard, Rajasthan Royals didn’t retain a single pacer apart from Sandeep Sharma.
How about a throwback to the Middle East days, where Jofra Archer was charging up and cleaning up the stumps for fun? Wouldn’t that be quite a return? Archer might not be the best of shapes, but if there’s one franchise that can get the best out of the English pacers, it is the Rajasthan Royals.
He’s not been the same ever since.
Yuzvendra Chahal, KL Rahul → Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Local huduga in Bengaluru, the entire Chinnaswamy Stadium, goes up on their feet. Goosebumps. That’s what Rahul’s move to RCB could do to the fans. The 32-year-old has already made it clear that he would love to be back. RCB need to replace their outgoing opener, Faf du Plessis, and who better than Rahul?
‘Letting go Chahal is possibly the worst mistake in the franchise’s history’ — quite a popular opinion. So, let’s leave it at that and say that Chahal will receive a warm welcome if he returns to RCB.
Mohammed Siraj → Sunrisers Hyderabad
Even before the Siu-raj era, if you remember watching him bowl, it might be in the Orange and Black jersey of Sunrisers Hyderabad. He’s a localite, he is perhaps one leading contender to lead a bowling unit.
With how SRH have shaped up, and Cummins is leading the side, Siraj’s homecoming could be quite the event.
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