Associate nations have been performing brilliantly in recent years and we can already sense that some of them would make it big in the sport very soon.
The likes of Namibia, the USA, Oman, PNG, and Scotland were all impressive in the T20 World Cup last year in November. That being said, several players from Associate nations have now lined up to make an entry in the IPL this season. However, they have a big auction, a big pool of players where they would need to stand out as the competition is fierce.
Today, we'll have a look at five Associate players who would rise to the occasion and perform in the IPL if bought.
David Wiese (Namibia)
The ex-South African and a hugely influential personality for Namibia, Wiese was the life of Namibia's T20 World Cup outing. He was their best batsman and was excellent in the bowling department as well.
A T20 league where you want your players to perform in all departments, Wiese could be a great addition to any IPL side that wants to enhance its core and establish a solid middle-order.
Let's have a look at his numbers.
| Format | Runs | Wickets | Average (Batting) | Economy |
| T20I (31) | 339 | 33 | 22.6 | 7.61 |
Rubel Trumpelmann (Namibia)
Another South African representing Namibia, Trumpelmann was also very impressive when representing Namibia in the T20 World Cup.
The 24-year-old pacer is fast, bowls great lines, and can adapt to any situation when it comes to bowling. Irrespective of the form of the batsman, Trumpelmann tends to exploit the weakness of the batsman causing him to commit a wrong shot and throw his wicket away.
Buying Trumpelmann won't just give you a lethal bowler but also a long-term option as we only see him getting better and better. Let's have a look at his bowling stats in T20Is. Which team would go for the Namibian star?
| Format | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Figures |
| T20IS (10) | 10 | 26 | 7.22 | 3/17 |
Ali Khan (USA)
The USA is a global powerhouse in almost every department but in cricket, they are still lagging. However, the recent development has been swift and evident, and the USA are starting to get serious on this subject.
They are actively participating in the tournaments and also giving tough fights to the other nations. Ali Khan is a player who represents the USA on an international level and has shown that if his teammates match his level, the USA will be a tough team to play in any condition.
Ali Khan, the 31-year-old doesn't have much international experience but the fact that he's featured in Lanka Premier League, Pakistan Super League, and also the Caribbean Premier League, it will be interesting to see how he performs in the biggest of the leagues, the IPL.
A handy bowler, Ali Khan has a lot to prove and if he delivers in the IPL, he will surely become the best for the USA in international cricket.
JJ Smit (Namibia)
Another Namibia youngster, JJ Smit is an explosive batsman who could be the ideal batsman for any team in the IPL. He's not just skills, talent and potential but he also has numbers to back himself.
Smit is known to be a ferocious batsman who doesn't shy away from expressing his aggressive approach. However, the IPL is known for troubling the best of batsmen and exposing their weakness to the world.
In a highly competitive atmosphere where the expectations are higher, Smit will have to prove his worth with his hitting ability, doing that would not just help him personally but also to the franchise investing in him.
Can Mumbai Indians use him as an ideal Hardik Pandya replacement? Let's see his numbers.
| Format | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score |
| T20Is (23) | 425 | 32.69 | 142.62 | 59 |
Tim David (Singapore)
The first Singaporean on the list, David is a batsman who could be a great option for a franchise that wants extra stability with consistent performances.
David is a very vital player for Singapore and in the IPL, we could see a side of him that's more explosive, expressive, and free-flowing. David is used to taking a lot of responsibility but in the IPL, he could be provided with some freedom if he has reliable players around him.
We feel that the Tim David known to the world has a lot more to offer. Hopefully, if he's bought, we'll see him tackle new and bigger problems which will demand more effort and perfection from him.
Let's have a look at his numbers.
| Format | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score |
| T20I (11) | 429 | 47.67 | 157.72 | 92 |
His numbers speak for themselves and we feel he surely deserves a chance to prove himself in the biggest T20 league in the world.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Cover Credits: Crickettimes
