IPL AUCTION 2023
Follow UsThe IPL auction returns. And there is this usual sense of anticipation around it. Who will go where is the biggest question that fans are seeking out of excitement. In this space, we present some names teams can go after based on their in-hand resources. This is Part 1, containing our assessment of Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan and Bangalore.
Mumbai Indians
Purse Remaining: 20.55 crore, Slots Remaining: 9, Overseas Slot Remaining: 3
The wooden spoon holders of the 2022 season, Mumbai can still frame a decent XI from their current resources, barring a couple of spots of course. The mega-auction last year broke their pool of all-rounders in their XI which used to lend them great flexibility. Mumbai tried to circumvent that with subpar all-rounders in the season but the move didn’t work one bit.
Thus, Mumbai is another side that will be hunting for a gun all-rounder. Sam Curran is their premium option but the budget might be an obstacle. Since they precisely need a bowling all-rounder, the only other alternative is Jason Holder.
Depending on the sum available, Mumbai will be investing in a leg-spinner and probably a fast bowler as well as back-ups. However, a few of the options available in this lot are players that they have released last month - Mayank Markande, Murugan Ashwin, Tymal Mills and Daniel Sams.
Players they can target: Sam Curran, Jason Holder, Chris Jordan, Kyle Jamieson, Shreyas Gopal, Mayank Markande, Shivam Mavi, Sandeep Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, Adam Milne, Jhye Richardson, Reece Topley, Dushmantha Chameera, Taskin Ahmed.
Delhi Capitals
Purse Remaining: 19.45 crore, Slots Remaining: 5, Overseas Slots Remaining: 2
Releasing players like Tim Seifert, Ashwin Hebbar, KS Bharat, Mandeep Singh and most importantly, Shardul Thakur, Delhi have created a decent purse for the auction - 19.45 crore. They are also one of the few teams that already have a Playing XI on paper prior to the auction.
An Indian seam-bowling all-rounder, which compelled them to shell out 10.75 crore for Thakur, will still be at the top of their wish list. But there ain’t many players available for that spot. With the IPL moving back to the home/away format, Delhi can aim to bolster their spin department further. Murugan Ashwin, Mayank Markande and Piyush Chawla are a few options.
Delhi would also be keen on creating back-ups given their bench strength is rather ordinary outside of the pace attack. A second option for the injury-prone Mitchell Marsh would be at the top of their list. Again, heading back to their home stadium can prompt them to opt for a spin-bowling all-rounder. Considering Ricky Ponting is their head coach, either of Sikandar Raza, Travis Head or even Cameron Green (as a seam bowling all-rounder) can end up in the Delhi camp.
Will Delhi also look for a future replacement for David Warner? There are many options on that front.
Players they can target: Murugan Ashwin, Mayank Markande, Piyush Chawla, Sikandar Raza, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Phil Salt, Heinrich Klaasen, Tom Banton, Harry Brook.
Punjab Kings
Purse Remaining: 32.2 crore, Slots Remaining: 9, Overseas Slots Remaining: 3
Punjab’s auction wishlist comes in combinations. They either need a reliable Indian batter at number three to reinforce their bowling with more overseas personnel, precisely in the form of a seam bowling all-rounder. Acquiring Mayank Agarwal back at a lower price or Manish Pandey who will come later in the auction is one way to go down that route.
If not that, they will need to sign a batting all-rounder who can deliver at least two overs with the ball alongside an Indian pacer. Ben Stokes and Cameron Green seem to be the best options for this second combination.
Given Punjab possess a lower middle-order that is bereft of long-term success in the IPL habitat, the first option surfaces as a better route. While this will only complete their XI, they will be investing the remaining of their purse on creating back-ups. Rahul Chahar is their only leg-spinner as yet. Hence, Punjab can bid for Murugan Ashwin, Mayank Markande or someone from the overseas lot - Adam Zampa, Adil Rashid or Tabraiz Shamsi.
Overall, Indian batters and overseas all-rounders would be their biggest priorities. And with the second largest purse in the auction (32.2 crore), they should tick most of the boxes. There are high chances that Sam Curran will return to Punjab again.
Players they can target: Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, Cameron Green, Jason Holder, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, Jaydev Unadkat, Murugan Ashwin, Mayank Markande.
Rajasthan Royals
Purse Remaining: 13.2 crore, Slots Remaining: 9, Overseas Slots Remaining: 4
Rajasthan are in the same boat as Punjab in terms of their dire need for an all-rounder. If anything, they probably require one more than Punjab. Runner’s up of the 2022 season, Rajasthan couldn’t lock in their fourth overseas player slot throughout the tournament.
This auction presents an excellent opportunity to secure someone who can deliver four overs with the bowl and can bat at number seven. Sam Curran is their premier option. However, with only 13.2 crore in their purse, they remain under the threat of being outbid by teams like Punjab and Hyderabad. On realistic terms, Jason Holder and Daniel Sams could be the perfect candidates for the Men in Pink.
It won’t be a surprise to see Rajasthan shell out 10 crore of their limited purse for an all-rounder as it is the only missing piece of the puzzle in their XI. Once they secure one such player, they will go searching for back-ups, primarily for the middle-order. They have enough firepower in all other departments.
Players they can target: Sam Curran, Jason Holder, Chris Jordan, Daniel Sams, David Wiese.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Purse Remaining: 8.75 crore, Slots Remaining: 7, Overseas Slots Remaining: 2
Bangalore have the second lowest purse in this auction but also have very little to do in the auction. Their first-choice XI is secured along with back-ups for most of their locked-in overseas players. Finn Allen is waiting for his opportunity at the top of the order and David Willey can walk in if Josh Hazlewood is unavailable.
There are no replacements for attacking spin-bowling all-rounders like Wanindu Hasaranga. Hence, a like-for-like replacement for Glenn Maxwell will be Bangalore’s first go-to player in the auction. Sikandar Raza and Travis Head are perfect back-ups on that front. Their options’ pool widens if they don’t figure in Maxwell’s part-time off-spin.
With the amount remaining, they can look for more replacement players, particularly another Indian seamer or middle-order Indian batter. And if they get all of them for a cheaper price then why not another leg-spinner from domestic cricket?
Players they can target: Travis Head, Sikandar Raza, Rilee Rossouw, Heinrich Klaasen, Jaydev Unadkat, Manish Pandey, Shashank Singh, Mayank Markande, Shreyas Gopal, Murugan Ashwin, Shivam Mavi, Sandeep Sharma.
