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IPL 2020 Auctions: Three Players KKR and CSK Might Target
- Updated: November 28, 2019
- 2171
The IPL 2020 auctions is the next big thing coming up before the end of the year on December 19 in Kolkata. Franchisees have retained the core of their side in the recently held transfer window while releasing some players as well. Moving into the auctions now the focus of all the franchisees will be to make a complete team and plug the loopholes if any.
As we start to dig deep into the auction analysing players that each team would need as per their requirement, here are the three players that CSK and KKR might target.
Kolkata Knight Riders ( Purse Remaining: Rs 35.65 Crore)
Hard-Hitting Opener: Chadwick Walton/Johnson Charles
The two time-champions, Kolkata Knight Riders had a solid opening pair with Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa opening for them over the years. Since 2017 however, Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine replaced the duo at the top and were fairly successful for the last three years. Now with Lynn released, KKR is looking for an ideal hard-hitting opener to partner Narine at the top.
The likes of Johnson Charles and Chadwick Walton performed well for their respective teams in the T10 League. Both being from the Caribbean will also have a great camaraderie with Narine having represented the same national team. With KKR’s middle-order sorted with the presence of Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell and Shubman Gill who was tested at various positions last season, either of Walton or Charles could bring huge value to the team. Another option which KKR might look to target is Evin Lewis who was also released by Mumbai Indians ahead of the auctions.
Middle-Order Batsman/ Captain: Eoin Morgan
With Dinesh Karthik’s captaincy coming under huge criticism after KKR failed to make it to the playoffs last season, the management were discussing of removing Karthik from the role of captaincy. In a scenario like this Eoin Morgan can be a huge addition to the side having led England to their maiden World Cup title earlier this year. Morgan has played in T20 leagues all around the world and has one of the most successful captains of the England cricket team. Morgan also has experience of playing IPL cricket having played for RCB, KKR, KXIP and SRH in the past.
With KKR looking to resurrect the side in a way and a player with good leadership skills, Morgan might just be the man for Kolkata.
Foreign Pacer: Mitchell Starc/ Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins last played in the IPL in 2017 for the Delhi Capitals and since then was not a part for the next two seasons. Released ahead of IPL 2018 Cummins will be one of the foreign pacers who will be available for the auctions. Despite the presence of Lockie Ferguson and Harry Gurney, KKR lacks firepower in their pace attack. This is where a Mitchell Starc or a Pat Cummins can be a huge value addition to the squad. KKR were successful in buying Starc in the IPL 2019 auctions but he missed the last season due to personal reasons. With a fresh season on the cards and Starc also fit and raring to go, Starc or Cummins with their raw pace would be an ideal buy for the Shahrukh Khan owned franchise.
Also Read: IPL 2020: Most Expensive Players From Previous Auctions
KKR Squad ahead of IPL 2020 Auctions
Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik, Harry Gurney, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Nitish Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Rinku Singh, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill, Siddhesh Lad, Sunil Narine
Its time now to focus on three-time champions Chennai Super Kings and the players they would be targeting in the upcoming auction.
Chennai Super Kings ( Purse Remaining: Rs 14.60 Crore)
The CSK squad looks the most settled after the initial transfer phase. They have managed to retain the core of the side and also have a good bench strength at their disposal. With skipper MS Dhoni at the helm of things, he very beautifully knows to bring the best out of his players.
Here’s a look at the players CSK might target in the upcoming auction.
Foreign Pacer: Dale Steyn
The CSK squad was termed as “Daddy’s Army” on their return to IPL fold in 2018. They went onto win the title for the third time under MS Dhoni to proving that age has nothing to do with success in sport. With the requirement of a foreign pacer in the squad, CSK could well go behind roping in Dale Steyn. On the wrong side of 30, Steyn still has some gas left in him to show his spark for one final time to the cricketing world. What better way of showing it than playing for CSK, the most successful franchise in the league. Imran Tahir, Steyn’s former South African teammate joined the squad in 2018 and has thoroughly enjoyed his stay so far and one hopes that Steyn, if he is picked by the franchise, will be a good addition to the squad as well.
Back-up Indian opener: Rahul Tripathi / Robin Uthappa
Either of Rahul Tripathi or Robin Uthappa can prove to be a good buy if Chennai looks for a back-up Indian opener. While Tripathi is young and so far has played well for the franchises he has played for, Uthappa has loads of experience on his back. One factor which might go against Uthappa is his past record in the last three editions of the IPL where he has failed to score big for Kolkata. Similarly, one thing which might work in favor of Tripathi is that he was a part of Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017, the team which MS Dhoni took to the finals.
Overseas Batsman: Chris Lynn
Released just ahead of the Abu Dhabi T10 League by KKR, Lynn was the highest scorer of the tournament scoring 371 runs. He thus will be one of the top buys in the tournament with every franchise willing to take him. Arguably in the best form of his life, CSK would like to reap the rewards of his current form and buy him in the upcoming auctions. Lynn’s quick starts might just be the injection that CSK will need in order to finish strongly with MS Dhoni at the wicket. Having almost everything covered even before the auctions, Lynn might just be the x-factor that CSK is after in the auctions.
Also Read: T10 League 2019 Round-Up: From Awards to Change In Rules in Season 4
CSK Squad ahead of IPL 2020 Auctions
Ambati Rayudu, KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, Jagadeesan Narayan, Karn Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Monu Singh, MS Dhoni, M Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shane Watson, Shardul Thakur, Suresh Raina
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