IPL 2020 Auctions: One Player Each Team Should Target

The auctions of the Indian Premier League is less than one month away. The eight teams have revealed the list of retained and released players. There were some surprising released players by the franchises. However, all the teams must have done their homework and they have released players according to their needs. Ergo, the teams will also go into the auctions with a preplanned stratagem as it is well said that half of the battle in the IPL is won or lost in the auctions.

Chennai has released bowlers like Mohit Sharma and David Willey and they might want to rope in a death overs specialist. Hyderabad has a weak middle order and they would like to rope in an experienced Indian batsman. Mumbai Indians have a balanced side but a hard-hitting middle-order batsman would be a perfect icing on the cake. Delhi Capitals still don’t have the experienced batsman in the middle-order and they would aim for the same.

On the other side, Kings XI Punjab doesn’t have a seam-bowling all-rounder after releasing Sam Curran. Kolkata Knight Riders have released Chris Lynn and they may target an opening batsman. Rajasthan Royals have let go of former skipper Ajinkya Rahane and they may also look to get an opening batsman for the team. Royal Challengers Bangalore released 12 players and the Virat Kohli-led side will look to rope in an opening batsman as well as a death overs specialist in the bowling department.

Below, we will take a look at one player each team should target to improve for next year’s IPL.

Delhi Capitals – JP Duminy

Delhi Capitals lack experience in their middle order and need a solid batsman there who has experience under his belt. The Capitals have a young unit and they need a level-headed player who can see them through a difficult situation.

South Africa’s JP Duminy has spades of experience as well as the necessary skills to help Delhi’s middle-order endure during matches and fight for wins. The southpaw batsman had a decent outing in the Carribean Premier League as he scored 291 runs in the 12 matches for eventual champions Barbados Tridents. Duminy averaged 32.33 through the tournament while boasting an impressive strike rate of 136.61.

Furthermore, Duminy has also represented the Delhi franchise in the past. He went unsold in the previous auction but the Capitals could be served well by bringing him into the squad.

Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane might open the innings for Delhi Capitals and skipper Shreyas Iyer and JP Duminy can provide the stability in the middle order. Furthermore, Delhi Capitals only has two overseas players in their squad after they have released Colin Ingram, Colin Munro, and Chris Morris. Thus, Capitals has five overseas slots remaining and they would like to target an experienced middle-order batsman.

Mumbai Indians – Eoin Morgan

The defending champions Mumbai Indians all but have their bases covered. However, if they are to strengthen their team, they need a strong middle-order batter. The team has Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock at the top of the order and they have all-rounders to add the finishing touches. However, they lack the firepower in the middle and England’s limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan can help fill in the gaps. Morgan has the skills to turn the match on its head and he can be a great choice for the reigning champions.

The southpaw batsman had scored 374 runs in the 10 World Cup matches at an average of 41.22 and a staggering strike rate of 111.08. Morgan’s knock of 148 runs off just 71 balls against Afghanistan is still fresh in the hearts of every cricket lover. The England skipper scored one fifty and one century in the ODI showpiece.

The left-hander also has the experience of 52 IPL matches and his recent form is going to be a bonus. Morgan amassed 341 runs in nine Vitality T20 Blast matches at an average of 42.62 and scored with a blistering strike rate of 168.81 while playing for Middlesex.

Morgan has the skills to hit the ground running and he can easily be one of the four overseas players with Lasith Malinga, Quinton de Kock, and Kieron Pollard being the other three in the final XI.

Kings XI Punjab – Jason Holder

A good all-rounder plays a key role in the shortest format of the game. Kings XI Punjab lacks a seam-bowling all-rounder in their side after releasing England’s Sam Curran. The Punjab team relies a lot on their top order and spinners. Ergo, they need a quality all-rounder in the side who can deliver the goods with both bat and ball. West Indies’ former skipper Jason Holder has all the skills, the Punjab team needs in IPL 2020.

Holder has been in fine form and he has the skills to get going with both bat and ball. The lanky pacer has done wonders for the West Indies team and he could be on the radar of the Kings XI Punjab.

Meanwhile, Jason Holder also led Barbados Tridents to glory in the Caribbean Premier League 2019. Holder led the team with aplomb as he scalped 14 wickets in the 13 matches of the tournament. He bowled with an average of 25.71 and conceded his runs at an economy of 7.34, which is considered to be decent in the shortest format of the game.

As Punjab only has three foreign players (Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran and Mujeeb Ur Rahman) in their side, Holder’s addition to the side will be perfect.

Rajasthan Royals – Yashasvi Jaiswal

Rajasthan Royals will need an opening batsman after releasing their former skipper Ajinkya Rahane. The void can be filled in by a 17-year old youngster, Yashasvi Jaiswal. The southpaw batsman has made a name for himself and he can be a perfect addition to the Rajasthan Royals unit.

The left-hander announced himself in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Mumbai batsman was able to hit the ground running in the domestic tourney. The prodigy batsman gathered 564 runs in the six matches of the tournament. He had scored his runs at an impressive average of 112.80 and a strike rate of 104.05. The southpaw batsman scored three centuries and one fifty in the tournament.

Yashasvi Jaiswal also became the youngest cricketer in the world to score a double century in List A cricket. The left-hander had scored 203 runs off just 154 balls against Jharkhand.

Chennai Super Kings – Mustafizur Rahman

Three-times champions Chennai Super Kings ticks most of the boxes in their squad but the one box that remains unchecked in their team is a quality foreign fast bowler. MS Dhoni-led side pace attack has done a decent job in the powerplay overs but they need a fast bowler who can be accurate in the death overs.

CSK final overs kryptonite can be resolved by Bangladesh’s talisman fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. The southpaw pacer has a plethora of arrows in his quiver and he can be lethal in the shortest format of the game. Rahman has a good slower ball and a yorker under his repertoire, which is pivotal to flummox the batsmen in the T20 format.

The 24-year old had an outstanding World Cup as he had snared 20 wickets in only eight matches. However, Rahman hasn’t played a lot of cricket since then as he has been troubled by an ankle injury. Rahman is an astute operator and his skills can be a great addition to the Chennai camp. Chennai can still go for two foreign players in the IPL auctions and Rahman can be on their radar.

The left-arm pacer also has the experience of playing for teams like Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the cash-rich tournament. Rahman has taken 24 wickets in 24 IPL matches at an economy of 7.51.

Kolkata Knight Riders – Aaron Finch.

Kolkata Knight Riders have always been a bit fickle in their top order. The Knight Riders keep on altering their top-order as Sunil Narine’s position is never fixed and they need an experienced batsman at the most crucial position. There is no doubt that KKR gamble with Narine and he is always given the license to play with a long handle. However, in doing so, Narine also gives a chance to the opposition to take an early wicket and put the pressure on them. Furthermore, KKR has also released Chris Lynn which means they need a solid opening batsman. Consequently, Australia’s limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch could be the answer to two-time champions’ top order conundrum.

Finch was at his best in the World Cup as he accumulated 507 runs in the 10 matches he played. The pugnacious right-hander scored his runs at an average of 50.7 and a strike rate of 102.01.

Moreover, Finch was at his best in the Vitality T20 Blast 2019 while playing for Surrey. The right-hander accumulated 398 runs in the 13 matches at an average of 36.18 and a staggering strike rate of 167.22. Ergo, Finch can be a solid addition to the Kolkata Knight Riders camp.

KKR has four overseas players in their side in Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harry Gurney, and Lockie Ferguson. Thus, it would not a problem for KKR to make way for Aaron Finch in their playing XI.

Sunrisers Hyderabad – Robin Uthappa

Sunrisers Hyderabad relies heavily on the shoulders of their openers – Jonny Bairstow and David Warner. Both the openers had done a fine job in the previous season but the middle order was not able to provide the required support. Consequently, Sunrisers Hyderabad will like to rope in an experienced middle-order batsman who can deliver the goods for the team.

Robin Uthappa can be the answer to Hyderabad’s batting woes. Uthappa has all the experience in the world and he was released by Kolkata Knight Riders. The right-hander might not be in the best of forms but he can get the job done for the Hyderabad franchise.

Uthappa has an impressive Indian Premier League record as the talisman has scored 4411 runs at an average of 28.83 and a strike rate of 130.5. Thus, Uthappa has the experience to provide the stability in Hyderabad’s middle-order which looks weak after David Warner and Jonny Bairstow.

In IPL 2019, SRH had fallen down like a house of cards whenever David Warner and Jonny Bairstow had failed to give them a good start. Hence, Robin Uthappa can be a great addition to the vulnerable middle-order of the Orange Army.

Royal Challengers Bangalore – Tom Banton

Royal Challengers Bangalore depends heavily on the shoulders of their skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. We have seen that RCB’s batting order mainly rests on these two potent pillars. If one of them shakes up, the team trembles. The Bangalore side need a batsman who can take off some pressure of these two talisman batsmen shoulders while batting at the top of the order. England’s prodigy batsman Tom Banton has the skills to put paid RCB’s woes.

The 20-year old talented batsman from Somerset was able to hit the ground running in the Vitality T20 Blast. The right-hander scored 549 runs (second highest in T20 Blast 2019) in the 14 matches of the tourney at an average of 42.23. However, what was more pleasing to note that he scored his runs at a blistering strike rate of 161.47. The youngster scored one century and four fifties in the competition.

Moreover, Big Bash League’s club Brisbane Heat has also signed Tom Banton for the ninth edition. Hence, the young player will also have the experience of playing in the BBL before he can make his IPL debut.

RCB had retained only two overseas players in AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali and they would like to rope in a hard-hitter like Tom Banton to strengthen their batting.

Parthiv Patel and Tom Banton can open the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to follow and they will also have the advantage of right and left-hand combination.