Pacers, all-rounders dominate IPL auctions
Of the 66 cricketers who made the cut on Monday, the eight teams picked 30 bowlers and 21 allrounders
NEW DELHI: With further expansion of the franchise Twenty20 league in the works after Cricket South Africa announced a new tournament, and the effects of demonetisation, there were doubts whether this year’s Indian Premiere League (IPL) auction will live up to the standards of the past.
However, these concerns were unfounded on Monday as the IPL auction, despite all teams having retained their core group of players, saw robust contest for players.
At least seven teams, with Kings XI Punjab looking the weakest, made smart picks ensuring that IPL 2017 could provide the most intense competition in the event’s 10-year history.
Teams were not allowed first right of refusal this time, a controversial tactic to buy back players at lower prices, and that resulted in heated bidding wars.
As each year has passed, team managements have got smarter and streamlined their buying tactics, and that was in evidence this time.
The franchises were willing to spend huge sums on pace bowlers, especially the pacebowling all-rounders, hinting at the direction this year’s edition of IPL is likely to take.
Captains look more likely to rely on clever variations of seamers to keep batsmen guessing, which in turn could result in spinners playing more of a support role, mainly bowling in the middle overs to restrict scoring.
All teams had retained their core group of batsmen, and hence bowlers had their say in this auction. But teams have managed to find a far better balance than in the past.
Two teams testify to this. While Rising Pune Supergiants have made a big statement by buying Ben Stokes for a fortune, both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils have looked to plug the gaps in their side. Despite a dream batting line-up, Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore were caught out on good pitches due to the lack of a cutting edge in their bowling.
Delhi Daredevils cashed in last year to deliver a stunning defeat at Chinnaswamy Stadium after their Zaheer Khanmentored bowling unit pegged back the hosts.
Although RCB reached the final powered by Kohli’s centuries, paying ~12 crore to get England’s T20 specialist Tymal Mills shows what they had been lacking.
Daredevils, the former semifinalists, have paid the price for inconsistent performances and have not finished better than sixth in the last four editions.
The purchase of New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson and pacers Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins will complement the strong batting line-up led by South African duo of Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy, and Karun Nair.
TEAMS WERE NOT ALLOWED FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL THIS TIME, A CONTROVERSIAL TACTIC TO BUY BACK PLAYERS AT LOWER PRICES, AND THAT RESULTED IN HEATED BIDDING WARS.