Barbados Royals have been one of the strong contenders of the Caribbean Premier League. They have come up with strong performances, including finishing as runners-up in the 2022 season, however, the elusive CPL trophy has always taken a slip away from them. They will now be preparing to be crowned CPL champions in the 2024 season.
The teams have already revealed their squads. As the 2024 season begins on August 30th, Barbados will begin their campaign on September 1st against new CPL franchise Antigua and Barbados Falcons. In this blog, we will discuss the top five key players that may guarantee them a win.
Top 5 Barbados Royals Players to Watch
Here are five Barbaos Royals powerhouses who can change their destiny:
Rakheem Cornwall—the Powerhouse All-Rounder
Rakheem Cornwall would be a major player within the Barbados Royals, as he is explosive in batting and effective with his off-spin bowling. His T20 stats sound impressive, with 75 matches, 1,339 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 150.78, featuring one century and five fifties.
The ease with which he finds the boundary, having hit 105 sixes, makes Cornwall a game-changer. Furthermore, having taken 36 wickets at an economy of 7.89, his bowling adds vital balance to the team. All of these traits awaken the all-rounder within Cornwall and embed him as a core part in the Royals’ pursuit for their maiden CPL title.
Rovman Powell – The Ultimate T20 Genius
Rovman Powell, on the other hand, is highly experienced in T20s, having played for Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Peshawar Zalmi among numerous other franchises within the format. The right-handed batter has 232 T20 matches to his name, scoring 4,094 runs, including his T20 International total of 1,414 runs.
His batting is very explosive, having bloomed 269 sixes and also making 15 fifties; he’s a powerhouse in that batting middle order. With his experience and the leadership that he exudes, he will prove pivotal as the Royals seek to break their title duck in the CPL.
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David Miller – The Finisher
David Miller is one of the most experienced T20 players around the world. With 493 T20s and over 10,526 runs at an average of 34.85 with a strike rate of 137.45, his record speaks for itself with 2,437 of those coming in T20 Internationals, studded with 748 fours and 464 sixes.
He reigned preeminent as one of the most dangerous finishers of the game. His ability to stay cool under pressure and raise the scoring rate when needed is going to be very important for the Royals.
Naveen-ul-Haq: The Young Pace Sensation
At the tender age of 24, Naveen-ul-Haq has already proven himself a very potent T20 bowler. To date, he has bagged 232 wickets in as many matches at a best bowling figure of 5/11, with an eye-popping economy of 8.25. He manages to strike with a fairly good strike rate of 17.3 while consistently troubling the best batter in the business with pace and variations.
His knack of getting wickets when most required makes him among the important ingredients of the Royals’ bowling arsenal, while his youthful energy will prove to be a huge boost in the 2024 CPL campaign.
Keshav Maharaj – The Spin Wizard
Keshav Maharaj is the man who adds a touch of class to the Royals’ department of spin. The seasoned left-arm orthodox has played 169 T20 games, taking 143 wickets at an exceptional economy rate of 6.86. This is resolute in his capacity to demolish the batting lineups with figures of 4/15.
Maharaj’s control and precision are priceless, especially on the spin-friendly pitches in the Caribbean. His ability in tying the batsmen down and taking wickets at the other end will be one that the Royals need a lot of if they are to blunt opposition lineups.
The Barbados Royals have put together an all-round team littered with match-winners in their bid to lift a maiden CPL title in 2024. With the brute force of Rakheem Cornwall, the experience of Rovman Powell and David Miller, the young blood of Naveen-ul-Haq, and the guile of spinner Keshav Maharaj, the Royals seem to be having everything to go the full season. As they head into the forthcoming CPL, these five key players will be central to their campaign as they look to finally lift the trophy.
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