IPL 2019: 5 most popular overseas players of the league

#4 Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga in IPL Auction 2019 Players List and Base Prices
Lasith Malinga

The Sri Lankan maestro is an absolute legend in the IPL. He has been massively responsible for the success of Mumbai Indians over the years. The death bowling specialist used to be the leader of the attack for the franchise until 2017. In the 2018 edition, Malinga was with the MI squad but as a bowling mentor.

But this year, he returns to the field as a player. The pacer recently made a decent comeback to the Sri Lankan side and captained in limited overs cricket. If he bowls as good as he did in the past for MI, the franchise will be in safe hands.

When the slinger used to take the ball in his hand, the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium would go crazy chanting his name. Once again, the moment will be recreated as Malinga will don the blue. He is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history and is certainly the best of all time in the history of the tournament.

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IPL 2019: 5 most popular overseas players of the league
IPL 2019: 5 most popular overseas players
When the concept of Indian Premier League came into existence, it was the first time in Indian cricket that overseas players were going to represent the city-based franchises. Although the name suggested the league was meant for the Indian players but overseas players were supposed to play a big role. Let's take a look at the most popular overseas players of IPL 2019. With 4 players allowed in the XI, the overseas players became the essence of every team. And it's fair to say that the "Indian" Premier League is incomplete without the foreign players. Some of those have gone on to attain massive popularity in India. They get a wild reception from the Indian contingent and at times, much more than their own countrymen. As the IPL enters its 12th edition, some big overseas names will attract the attention once again. Let's take a look at the biggest foreign stars of the league who will grab the eyeballs.

Here are the most popular overseas players of IPL 2019

#5 David Warner

David Warner
David Warner
The Australian opener is set to make an emotional comeback in the IPL. He had missed out last year due to the year-long suspension for his involvement in ball-tampering. In 2018, Kane Williamson had led the Sunrisers Hyderabad and filled into Warner's shoes. But Warner is the real torch-bearer of the team. He has been the best batsman of the team since the franchise came into existence. The left-hander has, at times, carried the side alone on his shoulders. In 2016, SRH had won the IPL for the first time under Warner's captaincy. Even though he doesn't lead the Australian national team, yet he has shown his tremendous leadership quality in the IPL. Warner is extremely popular in Hyderabad. The crowd in the city has given him plenty of love and will be relieved to have him back in the Orange Army. What makes him a crowd-favorite is his superb record. From 114 innings, Warner has accumulated 4014 runs at an average of 40.55 which puts him amongst the best in the competition. He has won the Orange Cap twice and is only one of the two players to do so along with Chris Gayle.

#4 Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga in IPL Auction 2019 Players List and Base Prices
Lasith Malinga
The Sri Lankan maestro is an absolute legend in the IPL. He has been massively responsible for the success of Mumbai Indians over the years. The death bowling specialist used to be the leader of the attack for the franchise until 2017. In the 2018 edition, Malinga was with the MI squad but as a bowling mentor. But this year, he returns to the field as a player. The pacer recently made a decent comeback to the Sri Lankan side and captained in limited overs cricket. If he bowls as good as he did in the past for MI, the franchise will be in safe hands. When the slinger used to take the ball in his hand, the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium would go crazy chanting his name. Once again, the moment will be recreated as Malinga will don the blue. He is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history and is certainly the best of all time in the history of the tournament.

#3 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo
Chennai Super Kings have perhaps the most loyal fans amongst all the franchises. They fill up the stands with a sea of yellow each time the team is in action. The team has been loyal to its players as well by retaining the core. One of the most popular CSK players is Dwayne Bravo. Players from the Caribbean add flavor to the league and similarly, Bravo brings the spice to CSK. The all-rounder is not just a character on the field but off it as well. He connects with the fans with his flamboyance, singing, dancing. The people in Chennai just love him for his style. But style is not the only thing Bravo possesses. Over the years, he has proved to be a big match-winner for the team with both bat and bowl. Last year, the Yellow Army made a comeback to the IPL after the 2-year suspension. But they could play just one game in Chennai and had to adapt Pune as their home venue for the remaining matches. This season, CSK returns to Chepauk and the excitement is evident amongst the fans. Even in the practice matches, the stands were filled with supporters.

#2 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle
Imagine an IPL without Chris Gayle. Isn't it the toughest thing ever? IPL without Gayle would be like a cake without the icing. Since the first season, he has been one of the biggest crowd-pullers. Known for his big sixes and power, there is no one who has entertained the crowd more than Gayle. The Universe Boss earlier played for Kolkata Knight Riders. He wasn't that impactful in the initial years. But his best days arrived when he joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore. For a number of years, he entertained the Bengaluru crowd. But after a paltry couple of seasons, the franchise let him go. In the last year's auction, he went unsold in the initial stage. But Kings XI Punjab roped him in late. He did a decent job in 2018. But recently, we witnessed Gayle like the one from the past. He recently made a comeback to the Windies ODI side against England and had as good a series as possible. The 39-year-old was at his explosive best and the Kings XI would love him to carry that form in IPL.

#1 AB de Villiers

AB De Villiers
AB De Villiers
Talk about the most popular overseas player in IPL, there can be no other than AB de Villiers. The South African receives grand applause each time he walks out to bat. Even though he plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he is loved equally on every Indian venue. He is one overseas batsman who matches the reception to that of Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni. Having retired from international cricket last year, de Villiers is only active in T20 leagues around the world. Going by his recent performances, it seems as if the form hasn't dipped at all. RCB would dearly want him to come into the IPL with the touch he has maintained even after retirement. When AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli bat together, there isn't a better sight in world cricket. The two classy batsmen always put up a spectacle that fans drool on. With the pressure of international cricket lifted from his shoulders, it will bring an even more relaxed ABD to IPL.   Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram