Murali Vijay - Chennai Super Kings
Vijay is definitely one of the most dangerous opening batsman in the IPL and his partnership with Michael Hussey was a key reason as to why CSK ended the 2010 season as Champions. Yet since the 2011 tour to the West Indies where he struggled for the test side his international career has fallen away. Having recently come back from injury he could be forgiven for a slow start this season but could be crucial to CSK's fortunes this year as there is no doubting his ability when it comes to striking a ball and he'll be keen to show the selectors that he's back.
Amit Mishra - Deccan Chargers
There are plenty of spin bowlers in India, but Amit Mishra is one of the best on his day. A string of good performances in last years IPL showcased his control and mastery of the googly, earning him a place on subsequent tours where he continued to do well. However, he really suffered from the failed tour of England, even though he was given few chances. Since then the likes of Ojha and Ashwin have leap-frogged him in the pecking order and he'll be itching for a repeat of last year's success.
Irfan Pathan - Delhi Daredevils
Very much a victim of his early success, Irfan Pathan has not lived up to the hype that surrounded the start of his international career, its easy to forget he's only 27! Some good domestic performances of late saw him regain his place for India's most recent one day outings where he consistently swung the ball early on. If he can bowl well with the new ball and rediscover the clean hitting of old, Irfan would go a great way to cementing his place in the blue shirt.
Piyush Chawla - Kings XI Punjab
Its been over a year since Chawla last played for India and a poor 2011 IPL has played a role in this, as other spinners have emerged. Chawla still has age on his side and legspinners tend to mature later than most. Having burst onto the scene early in his career he now needs to showcase the kind of control that a legspinner and particularly a front line international spinner must have. Chawla must live up to his potential this time round.
Yusuf Pathan - Kolkata Knight Riders
Like his brother Irfan, Yusuf Pathan has recently edged his way back onto the international scene and it seems ridiculous to think that a man that hits the ball as far as he does (20/20 SR = 155) and bowls tidy off-spin is not a permanent fixture in India's international side. Yusuf is an instrumental figure in a strong KKR side and needs to prove that he can perform when much is expected of him by the Indian crowds.
Harbajahn Singh - Mumbai Indians
Whilst his reputation is very much global and he is adored in India, Harbajahn's career has stalled somewhat of late. Another victim of the horrendous tour of England, he has not represented his country in any format since then. The extra responsibility of captaincy could well bring out the best in him this time round, and with many spinners coming through now and performing well, there may not be too many chances left for Harbajahn.
Robin Uthappa - Pune Warriors
There can't be many others in world cricket that warm up to bat by throwing round an enormous medicine ball. Uthappa is one of the most feared batsman in limited overs cricket and was snapped last year up by the Pune Warriors following a successful 2010 for RCB. He really can hit the ball miles and bats anywhere in the top order, making his 2012 comeback as a 20/20 opener against South Africa. Yuvraj Singh's illness will further raise the pressure on Uthappa to perform and I for one will be hoping he does as he can be thrilling to watch.
Sreesanth - Rajasthan Royals
Sreesanth is rarely seen as a 20/20 specialist, his ability to pitch the ball up and swing it around can often lead to expensive spells. This said, these are vital aspects to performing in the test and ODI formats, so if he can re-discover his mojo and take some wickets this edition it could lead to the selectors looking his way again. His talent is never in doubt and his on field antics and behaviour means he's never far from the headlines, its vital that he proves he can become a consistent performer on the big stage.
Saurabh Tiwary - Royal Challengers Bangalore
IPL 2010 really saw the emergence of Tiwary and since then he has almost become a forgotten man in international affairs, failing to add to his 3 ODIs of the same year. RCB's impressive batting line-up makes finding a place for him difficult and he tended to float around the order in last year's edition. Tiwary will undoubtedly be keen to remind the selectors of his ability to clear the boundaries from ball one, a rare trait.
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