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Opinion
According to numerous sources, the three main players about to be picked up by Ahmedabad are Shreyas Iyer, David Warner and Hardik Pandya.
Assuming these are the three players retained, this is how their XI could potentially look.
1. David Warner (vice captain)
David Warner and Sunrisers Hyderabad were synonymous until May of this year. Then, there were cracks between the two for the three-time orange cap holder and the 2016 IPL-winning captain.
With over 50 50s in IPL matches and a run bank in every season apart from 2021, it would not be a stretch to assume he will be a prioritised pick, especially with Lucknow rumoured to take on Rashid Khan, who the one overseas spot then goes to.
Alternatives: N/A because he is assumed to be a pre-auction pick.
(Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images)
2. Shikhar Dhawan
David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan were such a deadly opening duo at the Sunrisers that they made a solid foundation for most games that the Sunrisers won.
With tons of experience and a more hungry need to prove a lot of perceptions wrong, Shikhar Dhawan would be a prime pick in the mega-auction.
With Delhi Capitals not retaining him and him falling out of favour of the Indian T20I side, Shikhar Dhawan would be a boon to whoever gets to pick him.
If Warner is indeed picked, the bidding of Shikhar Dhawan would be a logical move as both have already played together.
Alternatives: Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal
3. Shreyas Iyer (captain)
A lot of sources have said that Shreyas Iyer will be the captaincy pick for Ahmedabad as KL Rahul is touted to go towards the Lucknow franchise.
An ideal number three batsman, he possess both the skills of an accumulator and a batting collapse arrestor with also the ability to hit big whenever he needs to.
Having already taken the Delhi Capitals to the playoffs in 2019 and the finals in 2020, Shreyas Iyer makes sense to be a captaincy pick where the ability to speak Hindi might just pip him over David Warner.
Alternatives: N/A because he is assumed to be a pre-auction pick.
4. Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper)
Matthew Wade has not played in the IPL in a long time, but somehow he has made his presence in T20s noticed and he played a crucial role to knock out a raging Pakistan in the T20 semi-final.
He already led Australia for a few T20I games and has drastically improved his T20 game lately. He proved this again by his 93 against the Sydney Sixers.
A wicketkeeping option as well, Ahmedabad will feel their middle order is one of the strongest with Wade’s presence.
Alternatives: Alex Carey and Nicholas Pooran
(Photo by Brett Hemmings – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
5. Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya made his name and success under the Mumbai Indians. While he has struggled for form of late, he is still a premier India player and him playing for Ahmedabad or his home state would only raise his confidence.
Sooner or later, he will also get back into form and when that happens, the franchise will be happy to have him.
Alternatives: N/A because he is assumed to be a pre-auction pick.
6. Liam Livingstone
Liam Livingstone showed great potential for the Rajasthan Royals, but he also showed great bowling skills in the T20 World Cup.
While he is known for his six-hitting abilities, he is especially known for hitting them long and big, which will be really handy with Ahmedabad’s massive stadium.
Alternatives: Daryl Mitchell and Mohammad Nabi
7. Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya is already captain of Baroda in the domestic circuits. With Hardik and Kieron Pollard, he was the third of the solid Mumbai Indians middle order.
If Ahmedabad were also to purchase Krunal, then they will command a solid middle order with great bowling options from the get go.
Alternatives: Krishnappa Gowtham and Deepak Hooda
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravi Ashwin is an enigma to Indian cricket. He is both versatile and conservative when he needs to be.
Arguably, when he was bought by the Delhi Capitals, he was somewhat under-utilised due to the abundance of options there.
Alternatives: Amit Mishra and Kuldeep Yadav
(Photo by Peter Mundy/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
9. Mohammed Shami
A spearhead in the Indian bowling attacks, Mohammed Shami was not retained by the Punjab franchise. The Ahemdabad franchise will look for an Indian option who has both experience and pace in the bowling option.
He may be expensive at times, but he does have more good days than bad and when he does have good days, he is able to defend five runs in a super over against Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma. He is definitely an asset to have.
Alternatives: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar
10. Chetan Sakariya
Chetan Sakariya became a revelation in the first half of the 2021 IPL.
As a left-handed option, he has a limited niche along with Khaleel Ahmed and Thangarasu Natarajan in an abdunance of Indian pacers. He will definitely be bought by a newer franchise.
Alternatives: Khaleel Ahmed and Thangarasu Natarajan
11. Lockie Ferguson
Kolkata Knight Riders and Lockie Ferugson has always been a bit of a mystery.
Kolkata Knight Riders were able to identify just how great of an asset Lockie Ferguson can be in a T20 but simply were not able to use him as much, both due to Pat Cummins and the availability of Indian pacers.
But nonetheless he did perform well most times he got to play. The new franchises will have their eyes on him and he would be keen to become a XI regular wherever he goes.
Alternatives: Mark Wood and Mitchell Starc
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