Opinion
Now that the IPL has confirmed via Twitter that the 2021 auction will take place on 18 February, there’s going to be a lot of buzz around which players are going to join which of the eight teams for the upcoming season.
I’ll be looking at each Australian I predict will be bought by an IPL franchise this year and which franchise will most likely go after them.
Steve Smith
Boy, no-one saw this coming. From captaining the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2020, Smith was outright released by the team. He’s too big of a name to go unnoticed in the auction and will be snapped up at a high price.
Which franchise will buy him? Easy: Royal Challengers Bangalore. Virat Kohli prefers to open in the IPL, and having a reliable No. 3 will allow him to play with freedom. And surely the RCB owners cannot miss the massive marketing advantage of having Kohli, Smith and AB De Villiers in their top four.
(Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Alex Carey
Carey found his opportunity to play in IPL 2020 only after Rishabh Pant missed a few games with injury for the Delhi Capitals. Released by the Ricky Ponting-coached team, it’ll be interesting to see how much franchises are willing to spend on Carey in the auction.
With all the franchises set with their openers, I forecast Carey will be bought by Chennai Super Kings as their backup middle-order batsman. If not CSK, it’s tough to see any other franchise splash the cash on Carey.
Moises Henriques
The older he gets, the better Moises Henriques becomes as a batsman. Add in his ability to bowl a few overs of medium pace and he’ll surely get a few bids.
The most likely team to buy Henriques is RCB, especially if they miss out on Smith and thus require a reliable middle-order batsman.
Another possibility is the Mumbai Indians, where he’d be Kieron Pollard’s understudy should the Trinidadian get injured throughout the tournament.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Dan Christian
In what was an outstanding season for Christian with both bat and ball in BBL10, franchises would’ve seen his game improve against spin. Ultimately I feel there are three teams that will chase after Christian: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. All will want a proven finisher in their squad, and the experience Christian brings into any T20 side is second to none.
Ben Dwarshuis
Dwarshuis was previously bought by Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 IPL, although he didn’t get a game during Punjab’s topsy-turvy season. With the ability to swing the new ball and take wickets alongside his lower-order batting skills, Dwarshuis’s profile fits the bank for the Mumbai Indians. The franchise wouldn’t like their tail to be too long, and Dwarshuis will learn a lot from Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah.
Jhye Richardson
Having played some cricket after surgery, Richardson took 29 scalps in BBL10, and his name will be attracting a lot of interest. While there’ll be a lot of bids for the West Australian speedster, Mumbai Indians are most likely to get him. And, boy, if they get Richardson, you might as well confidently say the Indians will win their sixth IPL title.
Jason Behrendorff
Another left-armer who can swing the new ball, Behrendorff’s exploits in BBL10 will keep himself in contention for a big bid in IPL 2020. I see two teams going after Behrendorff: Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab. Both teams need an overseas quick who’ll take wickets with the new ball and Behrendorff fits that bill.
Cameron Green
While Green hasn’t excelled in T20 cricket, many franchises would love a tall seamer who can also whack the ball out of the park. Ultimately I don’t think Green will get a massive bid from his base price. Mumbai Indians would be the favourites to pick him.
Mitchell Swepson
Swepson impressed against India in the T20 series and in his brief BBL stint after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While I don’t believe he’ll be a big-name buy, I think Delhi Capitals could go after Swepson as Amit Mishra’s deputy or even Sunrisers Hyderabad if they want an overseas backup for Rashid Khan.
Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell’s feats in the IPL have been poor bar a few good games in 2014, but his ability to win games by his fielding alone will keep him in good stead to be bought in the IPL. Bought at base price by Rajasthan Royals is my prediction.
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