The original list containing 997 players has been reduced to 332 players, who will be going under the hammer at the Indian T20 League 2020 Auction. The auction pool features 186 Indian and 146 overseas players, including 3 from Associate Nations. The bandwagon is back this year and the auction will take place on December 19th 2019. The City of Joy is all set to host the auction, witnessing the bidding wars between the franchises. The leading franchises are prepared to outwit their opponents for the upcoming season with their strategies and defined budgets in place.
Let’s take a look at the possible strategies for the respective teams that will help them in making potential picks.
Mumbai
The reigning champions with four wins have to showcase their A-game to retain their winning streak. The glaring issues for the champions include losing wickets in clusters, good spinners, and Indian fast bowlers.
Requirements:
- An attacking spinner
- A long-term replacement or a backup seamer for Malinga
Purse Remaining: 13.05 crore
Slots: 7 (Domestic:5, Overseas:2)
Chennai
One of the most sought-after teams of the league and the three-time champions have the most settled squad amongst all the franchises.
Requirements:
- An overseas top-order batsman
- A potential long-term replacement for Watson
- A fast bowler to set the bowling rhythm
Purse Remaining: 14.6 crore
Slots: 5 (Domestic:3, Overseas:2)
Rajasthan
Also known as the Dark Horse, the Rajasthan team have made some interesting player retentions (14 players) and releases (as many as 11 players) ahead of the Indian T20 League 2020 Auction. The team needs good finishing (with both bat and ball), as the team’s scoring rate in the death of 9.29 was the lowest among all teams in the 2019 season.
Requirements:
- Overseas Players (an all-rounder and a middle-order batsman)
- Good Openers
- Strong all rounders
Purse Remaining: 28.9 crore
Slots: 11 (Domestic:7, Overseas:4)
Kolkata
The two-time champion failed to progress to the playoffs in the last season and therefore, garnered mixed reactions from the management.
Requirements:
- Overseas fast bowlers
- All-rounders
- A leader of the pace attack
- A back-up for injured Russell
- Seeking an Indian middle-order batsman as a replacement for Uthappa (released player from the team).
Purse Remaining: 35.65 crore
Slots: 11 (Domestic:7, Overseas: 4)
Hyderabad
This team won only once in 2016 and they need to pull up their socks to attain the much-needed victory this year. The major areas of concern for the team are wicket-keeper and all-rounder players.
Requirements:
- A finisher to back up the imposing axis of Warner-Bairstow-Williamson
- A good Indian middle-order bat
- A back-up for injured Bhuvneshwar
Purse Remaining: 17 crore
Slots: 7 (Domestic:5, Overseas:2)
Bengaluru
Since the team has not lifted the trophy even for once, this edition of the tournament is crucial for them. As the team has released around 12 players, it is looking forward to re-build its squad with a new strategy.
Requirements:
- An overseas finisher
- A skilful overseas seamer capable of bowling at the death
- A backup wicketkeeper
Purse Remaining: 27.9 crore
Slots: 12 (Domestic:6, Overseas:6)
Punjab
Punjab has the maximum budget per player in the upcoming auction and therefore, they would look for some experience in their top-order.
Requirements:
- A new captain now since Ashwin is gone.
- Overseas seamers
- Indian batsman as finisher
- Experienced oversea all-rounders
Purse Remaining: 42.7 crore
Slots: 9 (Domestic:5, Overseas:4)
Also Read: INDIAN T20 LEAGUE AUCTION 2020: STRATEGIES FOR DELHI
Delhi
Delhi may not have registered a single win, but they certainly have the smartest releases and retentions. They have added talented Indian players (Dhawan, Pant, Shaw, Iyer, Ishant Sharma) by trading in players namely, R Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane.
Requirements:
- A reliable overseas batsman as a finisher
- Seam-bowling all-rounder (as the team lost the most wickets in death overs during 2019 season)
- A back-up keeper (in case of eventuality of an injury) as Pant is the only designated keeper in the squad.
Purse Remaining: 27.85 crore
Slots: 11 (Domestic:6, Overseas:5)
