Jofra Archer – Rajasthan Royals

Archer sparkled in 2020 for Rajasthan. Outstanding with the new ball, Archer took 20 wickets in the tournament at an average of 18.25, with an economy rate of 6.55, and impressed with the bat too, his strike rate a booming 179.36.

Ben Stokes – Rajasthan Royals

Stokes joined Rajasthan for the 2018 season after winning the MVP award in his only season at Rising Pune Supergiant. He struggled in his first couple of seasons for Rajasthan but seemed to find his feet as an opener in the closing stages of the 2020 campaign, striking a 60-ball 107 against Mumbai Indians to register his second IPL hundred.

Jos Buttler – Rajasthan Royals

After two seasons with Mumbai Indians, Buttler joined Rajasthan for the 2018 season and struck five half-centuries in his first season with the side. His overall record for the side is impressive; he has reached fifty on 10 occasions across 33 innings, averaging 42.39 with the bat.

Eoin Morgan – Kolkata Knight Riders

Morgan took on the KKR captaincy midway through last season and finished the season as the side’s second-highest run-scorer, striking 418 runs at an average of 41.80.

Chris Jordan – Kings XI Punjab

Jordan has been retained after he recovered from an underwhelming start to put up respectable numbers in 2020. England leading men’s T20I wicket-taker went wicketless in his first three matches, but took nine in his next six, bowling a match-winning Super Over against Mumbai Indians in the process.

Sam Curran – Chennai Super Kings

Curran was a bright light for CSK in a dismal season for the three-time winners, impressing with both bat and ball. Curran’s 13 wickets made him CSK’s leading wicket-taker, while Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson were the only teammates to strike more sixes than him.

Jonny Bairstow – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Though he was dropped by SRH during the closing stages of their 2020 campaign, Bairstow has replicated much of his pyrotechnics for England in the IPL too, striking at an average of 41.57 across the last two seasons.

Chris Woakes – Delhi Capitals

Woakes pulled out of the 2020 IPL in March last year, before the coronavirus pandemic brought the sport to a halt, citing his desire to focus on international cricket. The Capitals went on to reach their first-ever IPL and have retained Woakes’ services for the 2021 season.