A total of eight BLACKCAPS will dust themselves off after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final to feature in the Indian Premier League which begins tomorrow in Kolkata.
BLACKCAPS skipper Brendon McCullum, who last week claimed the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal as the New Zealand Cricketer of the Year, is back for his eighth campaign with the Chennai Super Kings.
McCullum is joined by Canterbury pace man Matt Henry, who will make his IPL debut, at the Stephen Fleming coached side that is looking to win the title for the third time after holding aloft the trophy in 2010 and 2011.
The Super Kings will open their campaign against the Sunrisers Hyderabad who feature two BLACKCAPS in Kane Williamson and Trent Boult who will both make their debuts.
Williamson’s stellar 2014-15 season was recognised recently at the New Zealand Cricket Awards when he swept the awards for the ANZ ODI, the ANZ Test Player and ANZ T20 Player of the Year and was awarded the Redpath Cup for First Class Batting.
Boult, who claimed the Winsor Cup for First Class Bowling last week, will make his IPL debut after fetching an impressive $814,000 in his first auction.
Mumbai Indians, the 2013 champions, have BLACKCAPS Corey Anderson and debutant Mitchell McClenaghan in their squad and former BLACKCAPS bowling coach Shane Bond in their coaching staff.
Anderson is back with Mumbai after a successful 2014 campaign where he averaged almost 30 with the bat and had a top score of 95 not out as they finished in fourth place.
BLACKCAPS swing bowler Tim Southee continues with the Rajastan Royals as they look to win the title for the first time since 2008 with the firepower of Australians Shane Watson, Steve Smith and James Faulkner.
Central Districts’ fast bowler Adam Milne is hoping to overcome the heel injury that ruled him out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to make his IPL debut for the Daniel Vettori coached Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The BLACKCAPS will look to continue their momentum after a successful ICC Cricket World Cup campaign and perform well in the countdown to the upcoming England Tour in May.
BLACKCAPS in the 2015 IPL:
Chennai Super Kings: Brendon McCullum, Matt Henry, coach Stephen Fleming
Mumbai Indians: Corey Anderson, Mitchell McClenaghan
Rajastan Royals: Tim Southee
Royal Challenges: Adam Milne, coach Daniel Vettori
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kane Williamson, Trent Boult
