CPL 2016: 5 IPL rivals who will be playing for the same CPL team
With the expansion of cricket, through domestic T20 leagues around the world, players of different nations have now become good friends, players of the same nation have turned rivals and plenty of interesting pairings have been thrown up. In the earlier days, cricketers played primarily with players from their own country, representing their national side or representing their state. Not too often, would you see players from different teams, playing with each other for another setup.
Read: Full schedule of CPL 2016
However, nowadays, in virtually every T20 league around the world, there are international teammates who are pitted against each other, and players from different countries, working together for the same franchise. When the Rising Pune Supergiants play the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, India’s limited over captain MS Dhoni will use his expertise and knowledge of India’s Test captain Virat Kohli’s game to knock over his stumps and vice versa. It’s added a fascinating dimension to the game, as players try to guess, and outwit their compatriots.
Also read: Full squad of each team - CPL 2016
This has led to a number of interesting clashes and battles on the field, this year Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, were seen getting in a scuffle as they represent different teams in the IPL. A number of IPL stars will be seen in action in the CPL, and cricket fans will be treated to another spectacle for over a month.
Here, we look at 5 sets of players who are rivals in the IPL, but will line up for the same team here, a mere month after the conclusion of the IPL.
1) AB de Villiers (RCB) and Kieron Pollard (MI) – Barbados Tridents
The mere sight of ‘Mr. 360’ AB de Villiers and Kieron Pollard in one batting order is enough to send shivers down the back of any opponent. While AB plies his trade with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, Kieron Pollard has donned the Mumbai Indians colours for a number of years now. Normally, these two would be trying to outwit each other, with Pollard trying to knock AB’s wicket over, and AB trying to nab Pollard in the field. Both these players amass runs at a quick rate, and quite often, it is their innings that makes the difference between their side winning or losing a game.
Add this to the fact that these two players are exceptional fielders, make them a very potent duo for the Barbados Tridents. Surely, IPL fans would love to see the duo represent the same franchise at some point in the IPL as well. With AB and Pollard in the same batting line up, no score would be out of reach for the Barbados Tridents and their opponents can rest at no time in the game.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Strike rate | League position |
| AB de Villiers | 16 | 687 | 168.79 | 2nd |
| Kieron Pollard | 13 | 207 | 143.75 | 5th |