A one-off all-star charity match will precede the opening game of the tournament and will be played three days ahead of the season opener. If the recent reports are considered, the teams are likely to be formed by combining players from the franchises located in the North and East of India: Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, and Kolkata Knight Riders- and franchises in the South and West: Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

So, what does the grouping of these franchises mean? It means that by combining the West and the South zone, fans might be able to see the likes of Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga playing for the same team.

Similarly, from the other team consisting of cricketers from the north and east franchises, we might see the likes of Andre Russell, Rishabh Pant, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Shreyas Iyer, Pat Cummins, Eoin Morgan, Jofra Archer playing in the same team.

One of the teams in the match will comprise of players from franchises of the South and West- namely Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

The other team will have names from the North and East- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Delhi Capitals (DC). While the team for the latter will be a power-packed one, choosing a captain may not be an easy task owing to the presence of many leaders in their squad and also potential leaders. But the prospect of putting together a team for these four franchises will be what fans will be eagerly looking forward to.

Here’s looking at the best X1 from the North & East zone that could feature in the All Stars game:

1. Chris Gayle (Kings XI Punjab)

Gayle will be another opener for Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming season and he is an obvious choice. This could be the last season for the 40-year-old  Carrebiean batsman in the Indian Premier League(IPL) and he will be eager to bid adieu by ending his stint on a high note. There is no doubt over Chris Gayle, who is arguably the best opener in the world when it comes the shorter format of the game.

He was bought by KXIP at a bargain price of INR 2 crores in 2018 auction in the third round. It looked like a gamble that the think tank played by roping Gayle but it has been one of the wisest decisions taken by KXIP. As an opener, he has muscled 858 runs in his 24 appearances for the Punjab based franchise. Moreover, his form will play a major role if Kings are planning to shot down their maiden IPL trophy in the upcoming season.

The flamboyant KL Rahul will open the innings alongside Chris Gayle in the upcoming season. Both the batsmen are highly experienced in the T20 format and are capable of playing the big shots right from ball one. The team’s fortunes in the batting department will be heavily dependent on the performances of these two players at the top of the order. Gayle’s fitness will determine the number of matches he plays in the tournament.

2. KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab) – WK

Former India cricket captain Anil Kumble, who had been recently roped in as the new head coach of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), has backed his decision to appoint KL Rahul as the captain of the team for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season by saying that the opener had been the best batsman of the franchise over the last two years. In the last two editions, Ravichandran Ashwin had captained the team but KXIP had him traded to Delhi Capitals.

Rahul, as an opener has proved his worth for whichever franchise, he has played for in the biggest T20 league. In the last two seasons, he has helped KXIP in the critical situations of the match and put them on the driver’s seat. When the Indian batsman is in full flow then it is quite difficult to stop him. In the last three to four years, he has gone through some major transformation in his game and now he has established his name as one of the biggest match-winners.

In the last couple of seasons, Kings XI Punjab missed many big opportunities under the leadership of Ravichandran Ashwin to qualify for the playoffs. However, now Rahul under his captaincy will look to bolster all the chances to help his side in clinching their maiden IPL title. With his current run of hot form, we would be the ideal choice to open this team alongside his KXIP opener Chris ‘’Universe Boss’’ Gayle.

3. Shreyas Iyer (Delhi Capitals)

Shreyas Iyer took over from Gambhir as Delhi’s skipper midway through the 2018 season and hasn’t flattered to deceive. The Capitals have mostly finished at the bottom of the points table in the history of the IPL. But last season was different as Iyer’s men advanced to the Qualifier 2 where they lost to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

At one point in time, DC also found themselves at the top. The 25-year-old stepped up with the bat as well, scoring 463 runs with three fifties to show for his efforts. Parth Jindal, the Chairman of the Capitals, lately confirmed that Iyer will continue to lead the side in the upcoming IPL as well.

The Mumbai-born has done well for India of late and has stepped up for his domestic side as well. He is expected to be full of confidence going into the next IPL. His calmness and aggressive nature would boost the middle order of any team especially this one.

4. Shubman Gill (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Shubman Gill has been in the KKR ranks for a couple of seasons. Even as he started his IPL career in the lower middle-order, last season, he was given a chance to open the batting. Gill didn’t flatter to deceive and turned up with three half-centuries.

The 20-year-old youngster showed that he can put his head down in crisis and also play the expansive stokes to put the Knights on the driver’s seat. Since KKR has released Chris Lynn, the team shouldn’t have a second thought about persisting with Gill as the opener.

Since the last IPL, the Punjab-born has matured even more and Gautam Gambhir, the former KKR skipper, even went on to say that Gill can lead the franchise. In the T20 league, the right-hander has 499 runs in 27 matches at an average of 33.27 while striking at a decent 132.36.

5. Eoin Morgan (Kolkata Knight Riders) – C

Eoin Morgan was the second buy in the day of the auction and KKR went bonkers to catch hold of the 2019 World Cup-winning captain. Delhi Capitals (DC) tried their hearts out but the Knights bagged him for 5.25 crores. KKR’s batting lacked a bit of firepower in the middle-order and Andre Russell seemed to be a bit over-burdened.

Morgan’s inclusion bolsters their batting without a doubt. Morgan shares a healthy camaraderie with KKR coach Brendon Baz McCullum, and the latter was over the moon after bagging the England skipper. Both Baz and Morgan have played together in the IPL for the Knights.

However, Morgan’s last game in the T20 league came in 2017 when he plied his trade for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He is likely to bat at four where he generally bats for the Three Lions. Leading a team filled with superstars is not an easy proposition and that responsibility can be given to Morgan as he is fresh off taking England to their first ever ICC World Cup title.

6. Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab)

KXIP roped in their former player and match-winner Glenn ‘’Big Show’’ Maxwell for the upcoming season. The franchise has again shown their faith on the Aussie all-rounder and splashed a whopping amount of 10.65 Cr. in IPL auction 2020 to get him back. Since his arrival, he has proved himself as one of the best hitters of the game in the tournament.

Maxwell will be one of the players for Punjab, who can turn the game from any point of the match. His extraordinary hitting talent is not hidden from anyone and will be the main man for Kings in the middle-order alongside Pooran. So, far in IPL, he has mustered 1397 runs in 69 games at a commendable strike rate of 161.13.

If he gets going from the middle-order, then Punjab can win the matches with ease. On many occasions, Maxwell has single-handedly won the games for KXIP irrespective of the opponents. He will the perfect fit for the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill and Morgan. The player apt for the finisher’s role would surely look to unleash himself in this charity game before having a memorable IPL 2020.

7. Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

On his day, Andre Russell can tear any bowling attack apart into shreds. Even his mis-timed strokes seem to land in the stands more often than not. Last season, he seemed to wage lone battles, and at times even emerging triumphant. For a chunk of the season, Russell had the task of keeping up with an asking around 15.

Batting mostly at six or even seven, he got 510 runs at an average of 56.66. The Jamaican plundered those runs at a strike-rate of 204.81 with 52 sixes to his name. By the time, KKR promoted their most prolific batter up the order, the team was on the verge of getting eliminated before the playoffs.

In the next season, KKR would be better if they don’t send Dre-Russell lower than number five. Russell will also get a chance to breathe with Morgan in the line-up. Dre-Russ offers the complete flexibility with his hitting prowess and also can be a handy bowler who can chip in with few overs.

8. Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)

Jofra Archer- Rajasthan Royals answer to their death bowling issues. The lanky fast bowler has enough variations like the slower to go along with his deadly pace and of-course the yorker at his disposal, to make him one of the best exponents of death-over bowling in world cricket, especially T20 cricket.

In the past two editions, Archer has emerged as the spearhead of the fast bowling unit, having claimed 15 and 11 wickets at an average of 21.66 and 26.45 respectively. And, the Royals will be expecting or at least hoping for much for the same in the upcoming edition.

Archer has had a dream run post the IPL 2019 season with him representing England and spearheading them to the World Cup title and also playing a very crucial role in ensuring England drew the Ashes 2-2. He will add the potency this team requires when it comes to dealing with the likes of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and others.

9. Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Pat Cummins went on to hog most of the limelight in the IPL auction. Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers (RCB) were involved in an intense bidding war after which the Knights jumped in. KKR put their first bid of INR 15 crore and then roped the Aussie speedster in at INR 15.50.

He became the second-highest grosser in the history of the IPL auction after Yuvraj Singh’s 16 crore. Cummins has earlier played for KKR, a team for whom he made his IPL debut in 2014 before moving to the Delhi Daredevils, now Capitals. Mumbai Indians bought him in 2018, but an injury ruled him out.

In 16 IPL games, Cummins only has 17 wickets, but his form for the Aussies made him a hot pick in the auction. With Pat in the side, Lockie Ferguson and Harry Gurney may not get a lot of chances. It would be great to see him play alongside the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Jofra Archer in the same team.

10. Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals)

Kagiso Rabada’s moment of the last IPL came when he castled a fuming Andre Russell in the Super Over to help the Capitals prevail in the humdinger in New Delhi. Rabada missed the 2018 edition of the IPL, but made a strong comeback, picking up 25 wickets in 12 matches at a strike-rate of 11.2.

Whenever Iyer needed to stem the run flow, he called upon the South Africa pacer, who more or less delivered. Had he played all the games, Rabada could’ve ended as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. He also managed to get a couple of four-wicket hauls.

This year has been a tad indifferent for Rabada though. He didn’t have the best of World Cups and couldn’t make much of an impact for the Jozi Stars in the MSL. But bearing in mind his quality, it’s a matter of time before he finds rhythm. The charity game could well go on to help Delhi Capitals in their quest for title glory in IPL 2020.

11. Sandeep Lamichhane (Delhi Capitals)

Sandeep Lamichhane was brought by the Delhi team back in 2018 for his base price of INR 20 lakhs. The Nepal spinner got chances in only three games where he made the batsmen work hard for their runs. Even in the last season, he was entrusted to play on six contests.

Back then, the teenager picked eight wickets at an economy of 9.13 with best figures of 3/40 against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Despite not giving him adequate opportunities, Delhi Capitals retained Sandeep for the next season. At the age of 19, Sandeep also has an experience of 62 where he has picked 72 wickets.

Delhi should include him as the spin-bowling option along with Ravichandran Ashwin. Lamichhane is currently with the Melbourne Stars in the BBL and with leg-spinners being the flavour of the season in T20 cricket, he makes it to this elite list overtaking the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Ashwin and Sunil Narine.