IPL 2018: 3 retired players who are likely to make a mark in the tournament
A decade since its inception, the Indian Premier League today is the annual highlight of the cricketing calendar.
Cricket, especially Indian cricket, has never been the same since the emergence of the T20 league. Players from all over the world belonging to different cultures come together, keeping aside their national rivalries for two months for this global extravaganza.
On one hand, the IPL serves as a wonderful platform for the relatively unknown players to shoot into the limelight by performing against some of the biggest names in world cricket.
Many players such as Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah to name a few, have grown by leaps and bounds mainly by playing in the IPL.
On the other hand, the IPL also provides an opportunity for the players at the fag end of their careers to stay in touch with the game.
With huge amounts being pumped in by the Indian corporate houses, these players also earn a hefty paycheck by playing for just two months.
Here is a list of three players who have retired from international cricket but are likely to make a huge impact in the 2018 edition of the IPL.
#3 Mitchell Johnson (Kolkata Knight Riders)
A fast bowler capable of bowling with express pace, Mitchell Johnson at his best is one of the most terrifying bowlers to face for any batsman. Tall, fast and aggressive, this left-armer from Queensland was once described by the great Dennis Lillee as a 'once in a lifetime prospect.' He is also a clean hitter of the ball and he boasts of a Test century, that came against South Africa in 2009.
He made his ODI debut for the Aussies in 2005 and was awarded a Test cap in 2007 for the series against Sri Lanka. He caught the eye of the cricketing world when he demolished the Indian top order, taking the wickets of Tendulkar, Dravid, Yuvraj and Irfan Pathan in a match-winning spell of 4/11 in the 2006 Tri-Series in Kuala Lumpur. In the longer format, he was at his peak in 2013-14 when picked up 59 wickets across just 8 matches against England and South Africa.
He made a spectacular entry into the IPL as he played a major role in Mumbai's title-winning run in 2013, picking up 24 wickets in just 17 matches. Since then, he has also played for the Kings XI Punjab before making a return to Mumbai in 2017. In total, he has picked up 59 wickets from 48 matches in the IPL so far. He skipped the PSL in order to be fully fit for the IPL after he had a disappointing run in the Big Bash where he could only pick up 7 wickets in 10 matches.
Johnson has a new home for the 2018 IPL season as he will be turning up for the Kolkata Knight Riders.