IPL Auction 2020: One player each franchise must retain despite their poor performances
We're getting closer to the end of the trade window ahead of Indian Premier League 2020 and in a couple of weeks, the teams are expected to announce who they are going to retain and release ahead of the auction which is to be held on December 19 In Kolkata.
Over the years, the IPL Auction has witnessed some incredible sights like outrageous bids as well as unbelievable steals. It all comes down to how teams plan for the event and the players who they release are an important part of this.
They can't release any player on impulse or retain anyone based on sentiment or past form and need to properly analyse their strengths or weaknesses before making their choices. Many players who have been let go by team after one poor season have gone on to flourish elsewhere making some teams regret their decision.
On that note, let's take a look at one poor performer from last season who each team should retain.
Chennai Super Kings- Ambati Rayudu
The last one year of Ambati Rayudu's cricketing career has been topsy-turvy, to say the least. From almost being assured of the No.4 spot in India's probable World Cup XI to being left out from the traveling squad to retiring from all forms of cricket to coming out of retirement, Rayudu has endured an absolutely chaotic year.
After a brilliant IPL 2018 season, albeit as an opener, Rayudu was seen as the solution to India's number 4 conundrum. However, his performances for the Men in Blue paled in comparison to his exploits for the Chennai Super Kings. This meant that he had to perform well in IPL 2019 to hold on to his place in the national team.
Unfortunately, Rayudu only managed to score 282 runs from 17 matches, averaging a sub-par 23.50 at a poor strike-rate of 93.06. He played both as an opener as well as the No.4 batsman but failed to impress in either role. Despite playing every single game of the season, Rayudu never got going when it mattered the most.
Age is not on Rayudu's side anymore and with him not being in contention for a place in the national side, the CSK management could choose to include him in the exodus of the aging players which is likely to take place this season. But when you consider the fact that Rayudu almost always finds his groove in the IPL, the CSK might want to hold on to him for one more year.
With two fifties in the recently-concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Hyderabadi batsman might well be on his comeback route. The CSK think tank might want to give Rayudu one last opportunity and back him despite last season's rare IPL failure.
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