The man who lit up the very first match in the tournament’s history no longer has an IPL team. The most expensive player in the competition’s history didn’t have any takers till the third time of asking. Two unheard names, both yet to turn 18, are now crorepatis. The man fetching the joint-highest bid on the day – of Rs 8.40 crore, 42 times his base price – was one who was an architect, far away from a cricket field just two years ago.
Cricket’s annual day of sales hasn’t disappointed. 351 players were due to go under the hammer, and 60 of them were able to crack a pay-day.
After spending a combined total of Rs 106.80 crore, the eight IPL franchises have their rosters ready – but how do the teams shape up? What are the possible line-ups we could see from the eight teams at IPL 2019?
Chennai Super Kings
- Money Spent at IPL 2019 Auction: Rs 5.20 crore
- Total Buys (Overseas): 2 (0)
- Auction Buys: Mohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad
The reigning champions weren’t ever going to be a telling force in the market on 18 December, having retained 23 members of their title-winning squad ahead of the auction. CSK kept their faith in the ‘Dad’s Army’ which took them to the crown in May, and the additions are only squad reinforcements – although Rs 5 crore for Mohit Sharma might have been at least a crore or two too many.
While Mohit was impressive in his first stint with Chennai, picking 57 wickets in 47 matches between 2013 and 2015, the 27-year-old’s IPL form in recent years has been far from impressive. In three seasons for Kings XI Punjab, he claimed only 33 wickets from 37 matches while conceding 9.20 runs per over.
Don’t expect MS Dhoni to deviate from the script which saw CSK home last season, although a fit-again Kedar Jadhav could boost their batting depth.
Possible Playing XI for IPL 2019
- Shane Watson
- Faf du Plessis
- Suresh Raina
- Ambati Rayudu
- MS Dhoni
- Kedar Jadhav/Karn Sharma or Harbhajan Singh (at No. 8)
- Dwayne Bravo
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Deepak Chahar
- Shardul Thakur
- Lungi Ngidi
Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Money Spent at IPL 2019 Auction: Rs 4.40 crore
- Total Buys (Overseas): 3 (2)
- Auction Buys: Jonny Bairstow, Wriddhiman Saha, Martin Guptill
Arguably one of the most settled squads even before the auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad made smart, as-per-need buys, while also managing a useful cost-cut. Wriddhiman Saha – purchased for Rs 5 crore ahead of IPL 2018 – was taken back in for just Rs 1.20 crore after having been released earlier.
The top of the order is where last season’s runners-up will see a change from the 2018 campaign. Shikhar Dhawan was traded to Delhi in the off-season, but David Warner will return from his ban – although his likely return to his national team could result in the Australian being available for not more than three to four weeks of the IPL.
That’s where the base price purchase of Martin Guptill could prove handy.
The balance of the Kane Williamson-led unit could be affected by Shakib al Hasan’s absence, with Bangaldesh players unlikely to feature post 15 April. SRH will hope for someone like Mohammad Nabi or Vijay Shankar can fill in the all-rounder’s shoes.
Possible Playing XI for IPL 2019
- David Warner/Martin Guptill
- Shreevats Goswami/Wriddhiman Saha
- Kane Williamson
- Manish Pandey
- Yusuf Pathan
- Shakib al Hasan/Mohammad Nabi
- Vijay Shankar/Deepak Hooda
- Rashid Khan
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Siddarth Kaul
- Khaleel Ahmed
Kolkata Knight Riders
- Money Spent at IPL 2019 Auction: Rs 9.15 crore
- Total Buys (Overseas): 8 (5)
- Auction Buys: Carlos Brathwaite, Lockie Ferguson, Anrich Nortje, Nikhil Naik, Harry Gurney, Joe Denly, Shrikant Mundhe, Prithvi Raj Yarra
Post the first three seasons of the Indian Premier League, when they clearly realised picking ‘names’ doesn’t produce results, Kolkata Knight Riders have been among the shrewder franchises when it comes to auction picks.
Even at a then-record $2.4 million price tag, Gautam Gambhir was a bargain buy for what he brought to them over seven seasons. They’ve produced more than just value-for-money purchases in the likes of Robin Uthappa, Piyush Chawla, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine over the years.
Which is why their choice of overseas picks at the IPL 2019 Auction, bar Carlos Brathwaite, was perplexing to say the least – especially given they had retained only three foreign players, one of whose participation in IPL 2019 is expected to be fleeting (Chris Lynn).
Fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Harry Gurney have played only two T20Is, even though they possess decent numbers in franchise cricket. Another pacer, uncapped South African Anrich Nortje, only has 10 domestic T20 appearances to his name. Spin-bowling all-rounder Joe Denly has just six T20I international caps for England, five of which came before March 2010.
What the Knight Riders do have is a healthy core of Indian performers – from Uthappa and captain Dinesh Karthik with the bat, to Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav with the ball. KKR’s trump cards, however, will remain the same: Russell and Narine. Their team composition will also be dependent upon Narine’s batting position.
Possible Playing XI for IPL 2019
- Robin Uthappa
- Chris Lynn/Sunil Narine (Narine at No. 7/8 when Lynn plays)
- Nitish Rana
- Shubman Gill
- Dinesh Karthik
- Andre Russell
- Carlos Brathwaite
- Sunil Narine/Joe Denly or Lockie Ferguson (when Lynn is unavailable)
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Piyush Chawla/Sandeep Warrier
- M Prasidh Krishna
Rajasthan Royals
- Money Spent at IPL 2019 Auction: Rs 13.80 crore
- Total Buys (Overseas): 9 (3)
- Auction Buys: Jaydev Unadkat, Varun Aaron, Oshane Thomas, Shashank Singh, Liam Livingstone, Shubham Ranjane, Manan Vohra, Ashton Turner, Riyan Parag
The flag-bearers for the IPL’s motto of ‘talent meeting opportunity’ may have taken their philosophy on unheralded talent a step too far. Of the six capped Indian players on their roster, one is Ajinkya Rahane. The other five, in order of international caps, read as follows:
- Stuart Binny: 6 Tests, 14 ODIs, 3 T20Is (last appearance Aug 2016)
- Jaydev Unadkat: 1 Test, 7 ODIs, 10 T20Is (last appearance Mar 2018)
- Varun Aaron: 9 Tests, 9 ODIs (last appearance Nov 2015)
- Dhawal Kulkarni: 12 ODIs, 2 T20Is (last appearance Oct 2016)
- Sanju Samson: 1 T20I (only appearance Jul 2015)
Quality overseas stars can make up for a lack of experience among the Indian contingent, and in that department the Royals boast a heavy-duty first-choice four in the returning Steven Smith and the English trio of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. But there’s a World Cup-sized volcano which Rajasthan are set to walk into.
If Smith returns to Australia’s plans after serving out his ban, his availability will be restricted to three to four weeks. Of the England triumvirate, Buttler and Stokes cannot stay beyond 25 April with both virtual guarantees in the World Cup squad, while Archer too is making an eleventh-hour dash for an English cap.
A look at the alternatives to the foreign four, as mentioned below, reveals gaping concerns for Rahane’s team.
Possible Playing XI for IPL 2019
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Jos Buttler/Manan Vohra
- Sanju Samson
- Steven Smith/Liam Livingstone
- Rahul Tripathi
- Ben Stokes/Stuart Binny or Ashton Turner
- K Gowtham
- Jofra Archer/Oshane Thomas
- Shreyas Gopal/Ish Sodhi
- Jaydev Unadkat
- Dhawal Kulkarni
Mumbai Indians
- Money Spent at IPL 2019 Auction: Rs 7.60 crore
- Total Buys (Overseas): 6 (1)
- Auction Buys: Lasith Malinga, Anmolpreet Singh, Barinder Sran, Pankaj Jaswal, Rasikh Dar, Yuvraj Singh
Three-time champions Mumbai Indians’ two biggest buys on auction day were, in terms of name, were two individuals who may have once been the hottest properties in T20 cricket, but are now on the wrong side of age – and form.
A year ago, Lasith Malinga was deemed surplus to requirements and signed on as bowling mentor instead. The 35-year-old is still the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, but will he have the legs – or the toe-crushers – of his prime? A similar doubt lingers over Yuvraj Singh, spared the ignominy of going unsold at the third time of asking. In the last four seasons of the IPL, the 37-year-old averages only 21.65 with just four half-centuries in 44 matches.
Mumbai’s most expensive pick at the auction was Barinder Sran, whose pay-cheque of Rs 3.40 crore might be a tad high for a back-up option.
Co-owner Akash Ambani’s revelation after the auction that Rohit Sharma will open the batting for MI at IPL 2019 makes predicting their potential XI an easier task.
Possible Playing XI for IPL 2019
- Rohit Sharma
- Quinton de Kock/Evin Lewis
- Ishan Kishan/Suryakumar Yadav
- Yuvraj Singh
- Kieron Pollard
- Krunal Pandya
- Hardik Pandya
- Lasith Malinga/Ben Cutting
- Mitchell McClenaghan/Jason Behrendorff
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mayank Markande
Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Money Spent at IPL 2019 Auction: Rs 16.35 crore
- Total Buys (Overseas): 9 (2)
- Auction Buys: Shimron Hetmyer, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Devdutt Padikkal, Shivam Dube, Heinrich Klaasen, Himmat Singh, Milind Kumar, Prayas Ray Barman, Akshdeep Nath
Coming into the IPL 2019 Auction, Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore had two major creases to iron out: a near-absolute absence of batting options outside of the captain and AB de Villiers, and a bowling attack which regularly failed to deliver for the team.
The first of those may have been addressed by drafting Windies dasher Shimron Hetmyer, South African keeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen and in-form domestic bat Milind Kumar, but RCB failed to make any notable additions to their bowling roster.
The only real bowling options added to Kohli’s arsenal are Shivam Dube – an uncapped all-rounder from Mumbai who received a Rs 5 crore bid – and 16-year-old leg-spinner Prayas Ray Barman, who has only nine List A games to his name.
In the trading window, RCB had let go of Quinton de Kock and Brendon McCullum, while bringing Marcus Stoinis in as part of a swap deal with Kings XI Punjab involving Mandeep Singh. If Stoinis finds himself in the Australian World Cup squad, Kohli will find himself having greater headaches.
Possible Playing XI for IPL 2019
- Virat Kohli
- Parthiv Patel
- AB de Villiers
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Gurkeerat Singh/Akshdeep Nath
- Marcus Stoinis/Moeen Ali/Colin de Grandhomme
- Washington Sundar
- Shivam Dube
- Nathan Coulter-Nile/Tim Southee
- Umesh Yadav/Mohammad Siraj
- Yuzvendra Chahal
Kings XI Punjab
- Money Spent at IPL 2019 Auction: Rs 32.50 crore
- Total Buys (Overseas): 13 (4)
- Auction Buys: Moises Henriques, Nicholas Pooran, Mohammed Shami, Sarfaraz Khan, Varun Chakravarthy, Sam Curran, Hardus Viljoen, Arshdeep Singh, Darshan Nalkande, Prabhsimran Singh, Agnivesh Ayachi, Harpreet Brar, M Ashwin
By far the biggest spenders on auction day, and not surprisingly at all. Kings XI entered the IPL 2019 Auction with only 10 players on their roster: they made up the numbers by spending nearly twice as much as the second-highest spending franchise on the day (Delhi Capitals, Rs 17.80 crore). How did they fare?
In Moises Henriques, Nicholas Pooran and Sam Curran, Punjab drafted in an impressive overseas quota of players who are unlikely to be affected by World Cup cut-offs. However, they saved their big money for two unknown commodities.
27-year-old Varun Chakravarthy and 17-year-old Prabhsimran Singh – a mystery spinner with impressive TNPL credentials and a keeper-batsman yet to play a first-class match, respectively – were purchased for a combined fee of Rs 13.20 crore.
By shelling out a further Rs 4.80 crore for Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin’s side have spent over half of their auction money on three players who wouldn’t necessarily have been reckoned as first-choice playing XI picks. Will they have another option now?
Possible Playing XI for IPL 2019
- Chris Gayle
- KL Rahul
- Mayank Agarwal
- Karun Nair/Prabhsimran Singh
- David Miller/Nicholas Pooran
- Mandeep Singh
- Moises Henriques/Sam Curran
- R Ashwin
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Mujeeb ur Rahman/Andrew Tye
- Mohammed Shami
Delhi Capitals
- Money Spent at IPL 2019 Auction: Rs 17.80 crore
- Total Buys (Overseas): 10 (3)
- Auction Buys: Hanuma Vihari, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Ankush Bains, Nathu Singh, Colin Ingram, Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul, Bandaru Ayyappa, Jalaj Saxena
New name, new identity: Check. New intent, new philosophy: Now checked.
There have been too many auctions where the Delhi franchise, erstwhile known as the Daredevils, dared too much with their devilry. Think Yuvraj Singh for Rs 16 crore in 2015, or Pawan Negi for Rs 8.5 crore in 2016.
The Capitals were wiser with their capital at the IPL 2019 Auction, and as a result, they possess – potentially – one of the more balanced rosters in the competition.
Shikhar Dhawan’s inclusion, snapped from Sunrisers Hyderabad in the trading window, had given Delhi a potentially mouth-watering Indian top-4 (see below). By adding more Indian batting options, and a quality Indian all-rounder in Axar Patel, the GMR-JSW co-owned franchise could now have the luxury of three quality overseas fast bowlers – all available till at least 6 May – in their XI in Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult.
Delhi’s increased balance offers than an opportunity to go horses for courses – Colin Ingram can be used as a middle-order dasher, Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane provides spin-bowling cushion and West Indian Sherfane Rutherford is a candidate if they require a fast-bowling all-rounder.
Possible Playing XI for IPL 2019
- Shikhar Dhawan
- Prithvi Shaw
- Shreyas Iyer
- Rishabh Pant
- Hanuma Vihari/Colin Ingram
- Chris Morris
- Axar Patel
- Amit Mishra
- Trent Boult
- Kagiso Rabada
- Sandeep Lamichhane/Sherfane Rutherford/Ishant Sharma
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)