India, March 2 -- In a matter of months, South Africa captain Aiden Markram has emerged as one of the top batsmen in the T20 format. If former captain Faf du Plessis is to be believed, it's the Indian Premier League (IPL) behind his transformation, particularly his stint with Lucknow Super Giants last year. His batting in the Powerplay was particularly impressive as he boasted a strike rate of 151.13 in the first six overs. His season strike rate was 148.83.

Du Plessis' remark is a big endorsement for the league. Until now, mostly one hears the comments like how the league has helped local Indian players grow, thanks to the exposure it provides. The year before Markram largely played as a middle order batsman for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and...