The mini auctions of IPL have always
been intriguing because of high demand-short supply ratio of players,
especially, quality Indian talent. There could be some eye-popping deals for
players, who would have struggled otherwise to attract attention in the mega
auction. Here is a look at possible auction strategy for teams:
1) Chennai Super Kings Purse Left: Rs
31.4 crore Potential Players of Interest: Shardul Thakur, Manish Pandey, Josh
Hazlewood Shardul Thakur was earlier with the CSK and is a seasoned Indian
campaigner, who can bowl at death and chance his arms coming in at No. 8. CSK
could go up to Rs 10 crore and upwards for Shardul.
They would also look at an Indian batter
to replace Ambati Rayudu and may look at veteran Manish Pandey for bargain buy
as there aren’t too many experienced Indians listed in the auction roster. If
they want to bolster pace department then Josh Hazlewood is an option.
2) Delhi Capitals Purse Left: Rs 28.95
crore Potential Players of Interest: Priyansh Arya, Harshal Patel, Shardul
Thakur, Jos Inglis, Wanindu Hasaranga Delhi Capitals’ weakest link is their
Indian collection of batters and poor is under-statement for the kind of
assortment they have got right now.
Delhi State team opener Priyansh Arya,
who played some whirlwind knocks during the SMAT T20, and two unknown but
highly talked-about youngsters from UP – Sameer Rizvi and Swastik Chikkara
could be keenly watched. The duo was brilliant in the UPCA T20 league.
On a tacky Feroze Shah Kotla track,
Harshal Patel is a seasoned campaigner, whose slower ones could cause damage.
3) Gujarat Titans Purse Left: Rs 38.15
crore Potential Players of Interest: Shardul Thakur, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl
Mitchell, Azmatullah Omarzai.
Whatever they do, even Gujarat Titans
fans would agree that there can’t be a replacement of Hardik Pandya as a whole
package. Shardul Thakur at best would be a 50 to 60 per cent replacement.
Rachin Ravindra could be a choice but then Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill and B
Sai Sudharsan will take first three spots in batting order.
4) Kolkata Knight Riders Purse Left: Rs
32.70 crore Potential Players of Interest: Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Rachin
Ravindra, Harshal Patel.
What KKR needs immediately is a couple
of good pace bowlers, preferably one among Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Pat
Cummins or Jos Hazlewood along with Harshal Patel, who is always a handy
option.
5) Lucknow Super Giants Purse Left: Rs
13.15 crore Potential Players of Interest: Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka,
Ashutosh Sharma LSG would look at another quality fast bowling option apart
from Mark Wood.
Starc, Hazlewood and South African
Gerald Coetzee are three options readily available. Among left-arm pacer, there
is Nandre Burger and Dilshan Madushanka. Among uncapped Indian batters, there
is Railwayman Ashutosh Sharma, who scored 12-ball-50 in SMAT.
6) Mumbai Indians Purse Left: Rs 17.75
crore Potential Players of Interest: Hasaranga, Manav Suthar, Ashutosh Sharma,
Darshan Misal MI doesn’t have too much money but its scout will make a bargain
buy in terms of uncapped Indian players. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar has made
quite an impression and was also part of MI’s talent development squad. In
terms of foreign spinners, there is Wanindu Hasaranga.
7) Sunrisers Hyderabad Purse Left: Rs 34
crore Potential Players of Interest: Anyone and everyone with not many Indian
players in the roster, Shardul and Harshal could well be their choice too and
they can bid deep. But they would need at least one good foreign pacer and one
more top-order batter – preferably Indian.
8) Royal Challengers Bengaluru Purse
Left: Rs 23.25 crore Potential Players of Interest: Starc, Cummins, Manav
Suthar RCB freed Rs 10.75 crore paid to Harshal Patel in order to bid for a
overseas pacer and the three Australian pacers will be much in demand. With Mo
Bobat joining the RCB ranks, it will be interesting to see if Englishmen Gus
Atkinson or Reece Topley get good bids.
9) Punjab Kings Purse Left: Rs 29.10
crore Potential Players of Interest: Shardul, Harshal, Rachin Ravindra Punjab
Kings have two overseas slots left and if they follow their old trend of going
for the flavour of the season, then Rachin Ravindra could be a potential pick
and they have the money to go the distance for the Kiwi.
However what they need urgently is a
quality Indian pacer and the three options are Harshal, Shardul and Umesh
Yadav.
10) Rajasthan Royals Purse Left: 14.50
crore Potential Players of Interest: Mainly domestic Indian batters like Sameer
Rizvi, Swastik Chikkara, Ashutosh Sharma, Abhimanyu Singh, Saurabh Chauhan
Royals have always had a good clutch of youngsters picked from domestic
tournaments and rigorous trials. All those who have performed in Syed Mushtaq
Ali, TNPL, UP Premier League will have a good chance of getting deals.
PTI
