3 teams who should target Mitchell Marsh in IPL 2025 Auction ft. Punjab Kings
The IPL auction is just a few hours away and all ten franchises have chalked out their plans on how to go about their business in what promises to be the biggest auction in the tournament's history.
While most franchises have retained their core, teams like RCB and Punjab Kings will look to build their team's foundation almost from scratch.
The auction is slated to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 24 and 25 November, and more than 1000 players will go under the hammer over the two days.
The coaches and the team management will be present at the auction, trying to build a team which could potentially win a few IPL titles in the next few years.
Among the Australian players going under the hammer, Mitchell Marsh is expected to fetch a significant sum, given his all-round credentials and ability to decimate bowling attacks. He had a good time with the ball in the first innings of Australia's ongoing Test against India, but had a poor return with the bat.
Conditions in India are expected to be flat and allow the batters to hit through the line almost seamlessly. Marsh was released by the Delhi Capitals ahead of the upcoming season. He hasn't been at his consistent best in the tournament, but given his natural skill sets, he could be in high demand in the auction.
With that, let us have a look at three teams which might end up targeting the all-rounder:
# 1. Punjab Kings
One of the perennial underachievers in the IPL, the Punjab Kings have retained only Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh, which clearly suggests they want to build a new core.
Mitchell Marsh could be a handy option in this regard, given his ability to bat anywhere in the batting line-up. Marsh can open the innings and can blast the opposition's bowling attacks in the powerplay. He is someone who can mentally deflate a bowler with his audacious strokes. Marsh can also bat in the middle or the lower-middle order.
If required, he can also open the bowling if the conditions offer some assistance. He has the ability to chip in with a couple of overs, which could be crucial for a captain in finalizing an XI. Given his experience of captaining Australia, he could also be entrusted with a leadership role.
# 2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Another franchise which might end up targeting Mitchell Marsh is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who are yet to lift the IPL title. They released top all-round players like Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green, and could replace them with Mitchell Marsh.
Over the years, RCB has lacked an out-and-out power hitter in the powerplay. In batting-friendly conditions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Marsh could be a nightmare for the bowlers.
He has the ability to utilize the powerplay and never shies away from expressing himself.
# 3. Chennai Super Kings
Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, might target Mitchell Marsh after releasing Daryl Mitchell, a player from a similar mould. He was bought for a whopping Rs 14 crores, but the swashbuckling all-rounder couldn't quite make a significant impact and had to be eventually dropped from the playing XI.
Over the years, the Chennai Super Kings have relied on stability at the top of the order. They have scored at a good rate, but have always lacked someone who could absolutely derail the opposition bowling line-up in the powerplay. With 55 Crores left in their purse, CSK could end up roping in Mitchell Marsh.