IPL Auction 2019: 3 teams who could buy Joe Root
Joe Root, the current English Test captain is probably the best player to have never played in the IPL. Joe Root flexible batsmen who can anchor an innings and score quick runs at the same time. He also is a decent part-time off-break bowler and can be handy on Indian pitches.
A part of the Fab Four, Joe Root has scored 6400+ test match runs at an average of 51 and has over 4900 ODI runs at an average of 52 at a respectable strike rate of 87. Everyone knows about Root's batting prowess in the test and ODI format, but his abilities as a T20 player are highly underestimated.
In 28 T20I appearances for England, he has scored 787 runs at an average and strike rate of 36 and 129 respectively. His T20 performances have considerably improved in the last few years. In the T20 format in last 4 years, Joe Root has scored runs at a sublime average of 43 and at a strike rate of 137.
While Joe Root went unsold in the 2018 IPL auction, he is likely to attract some bids this time around. Teams looking for a solid middle-order batsman, an overseas pro, and an experienced campaigner could target Root at the auction.
On that note, let's take a look at three teams who could target Joe Root at the upcoming auction.
#1 Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI Punjab are one of the three franchises alongside RCB and Delhi Daredevils who have never won the IPL title. With a new captain at the helm and a strong batting line-up, KXIP were expected to do well in the previous edition of the IPL. Despite this KXIP finished at a disappointing 7th position on the points table.
The disappointing results forced KXIP to release some of their underperforming players like Aaron Finch, Mohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh alongside 8 other players. KXIP also traded Marcus Stoinis for Mandeep Singh to RCB. As a result, they have the largest available salary cap (36.20 Cr) among all the teams.
KXIP have retained only four overseas players and would look for a solid middle-order batsman at the auction. In such circumstances, Joe Root might just be the perfect buy for KXIP.
At KXIP, Root would have to do his usual role of anchoring the innings while other batsmen would play freely around him.