IPL 2014: Which players should teams buy in auctions with their RTM cards
We are now less than a month away from the 2014 IPL auctions. Apart from having the choice of retaining a maximum of five players before the auctions, franchises can retain a few more using a brand new concept of ‘right to match’.
‘Right to match’ allows a franchise the first rights on a player who played for them during the 2013 season. If a player has been sold for a particular amount to a new team, his former team still has the rights to match the final bid and take him in their team again.
No team is allowed to retain more than four capped Indian players via a combination of retentions prior to the auction and the ‘right to match’.
We will now look at the potential players who may be retained by their respective franchises using this option.
Mumbai Indians
Number of RTM options: 1
The defending champions will have a headache as their team is filled with superstars. Here are the potential options:
Mitchell Johnson
Seems to be everyone’s favourite. Some were surprised that he wasn’t retained originally considering his current red hot form and MI would do their best to get him on board again. Having the least salary cap among all teams, can they match the price other teams throw at him?
Mitch seems to be everyone’s favourite, but MI might have to settle for Smith.
Dwayne Smith
He solved MI’s long term top order issue with a successful 2013 season by averaging 32 with a strike rate of 122.58. He is in with a shout considering the fact that MI might not want to tinker with their top order again especially with Sachin retiring.
Pragyan Ojha
MI’s spinners had a huge role in their success last season and one of them has already been retained. Ojha stands a chance since they have retained only 3 capped Indian players.
Apart from these three, Nathan Coulter-Nile will be on MI’s radar if the franchise fails to retain Johnson. And a surprise Indian player could be Rishi Dhawan after his recent Ranji exploits.
FINAL VERDICT: Dwayne Smith.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Number of RTM options: 2
It was a bit of a surprise that KKR chose to retain only two of their players despite the presence of some big names in that squad. Perhaps the management felt the need for a change.
Brendon Mccullum
Considering the impact that he has made in the format over the years, it was a huge surprise that he wasn’t retained. Has the potential to break the auction record and that could be the only case where KKR might not retain him.
Shakib Al Hassan
An all-rounder at ease in this format, if the conditions at Eden Gardens remain the same like last season, then they wouldn’t let him go.
Mohammed Shami
India’s newest pace sensation will grab many eyeballs in the auction and one wonders why KKR didn’t retain him. Shami could very well end up as the costliest Indian bowler during the auction.
Could well become India’s costliest bowler in the IPL.
Yusuf Pathan may not be retained since he didn’t do justice to his price tag in the previous editions. And with Kallis, age and last season’s form may turn against him. Morgan’s ability is never in question, but his availability is the key.
FINAL VERDICT: Mohammed Shami and Shakib Al Hassan.