Top Players to bid this upcoming IPL auction

As the player retention process concluded on January 10,and as the day of player’s auction for IPL 7 i.e 12th and 13th February comes closer,we take a look at the top players to bid for this IPL.

1.Aaron Finch-Australia

This destructive opening batsman from Australia has proved his worth with his current form against India,England and also in the Big Bash League where he plays for Melbourne Renegades.He is a solid striker of the ball and a consistent run getter for his team.

He was eventually bought by Rajasthan Royals and was later signed by Delhi Daredevils in 2012.He played for Pune Warriors India in the last edition of IPL where he also captained the team.So,the franchisee buying him will definitely consider the option of making him the captain of the team too.

He is definitely one big fish to catch this auction.

2013 IPL stats

Batting:

Matches:14
Runs:456
Highest score:67
Average:32.57
Strike-rate:135.71

2.Mitchell Johnson-Australia

The man with the moustache is the next big star to grab on.Mumbai Indians,the team for which he featured last IPL decided to retain Lasith Malinga instead of him despite his good performance.Johnson will gather plenty of interest from all of the owners of every team, and could join the exclusive million dollar man club, with his name hot property in the cricket world after his stunning efforts for Australia in the recent Ashes series.

A bowler who can bat to is that kind of a player which every franchise would love to have in their team.However,the ‘right to match’,introduced this year,will be crucial for franchisees and will likely be applied for Johnson.

This feature give teams a chance to retain a player being auctioned and the right of first match will enable a franchise to buy back a player even after other franchises have completed the bidding process for that player.The team owner, however, will have to match the price of the highest bidder, something Johnson will be worth given his current form.

2013 IPL stats:

Bowling:

Wickets:24
Best-bowling:3-27
Average:19.12
Economy:7.17
Strike-rate:16

3.Corey Anderson-New Zealand

Who would not like to have the player who recently broke the record of the fastest century in ODI cricket by hitting a ton in just 36 balls.Also Corey Anderson’s form against India with both Bat and Ball makes his chances even more of being one of the top players to bid for.

His career stats may not be great but looking at his current form,a middle order hard hitting batsman who can bowl at a decent pace and gets wickets will definitely be cherished by the franchisees and they would love to have Anderson in their team.

T20 career stats:

Batting:

Matches:33
Total runs:291
Highest score:44
Average:13.85
Strike-rate:126.5

Bowling:

Wickets:7
Best-bowling:2-21
Average:35.85
Economy:8.09
Strike-rate:26.5

4.David Warner-Australia

Like Mitchell Johnson, now is the right time for David Warner to be up for grabs in the IPL auction having been at his destructive best during the Ashes series.

Very strangely not retained by Delhi Daredevils,for whom he featured for in all the previous versions of the IPL,this pocket-rocket left-hander is also coming off his best IPL season ever with 410 runs from 16 games with the Australian able to carry his bat through the innings three times.

His ability to set a total around 200 or chase down a target with relative ease on his day, will mean Warner will also go close to the million dollar mark.

Again the "right to match" feature introduced this year might come into effect in case of Warner too.

2013 IPL stats:

Batting:

Matches:16
Runs:410
Highest score:77
Average:31.53
Strike-rate:126.33

5.Yuvraj Singh-India

Perhaps a controversial inclusion in this list given his recent slump in form but we have seen how fast Yuvraj Singh can come back in form and what he can do both with bat and ball in the 2011 World cup.
Franchisees would definitely want to have a big name Indian player to attract native fan-following. Moreover,Yuvraj comes with a great amount of IPL experience,leadership skills,world-renowned batting ability and some pretty useful bowling ability.

Not a long time ago,he single-handedly destroyed the Australian pace attack in a T-20 match that India won. And who can forget his full-monty of six-sixes in the inaugural T20 world cup? This might be the best bargain on offer.

2013 IPL stats:

Batting:

Matches:13
Total runs:238
Highest score:34
Average:19.83
Strike-rate:125.3

Bowling:

Wickets:6
Best-bowling:2-27
Average:25.33
Economy:6.90
Strike-rate:22

6.Steve Smith-Australia

Another Australian on the list. Steve Smith was a part of the now-terminated Pune Warriors side last year but he was one of the few positives that emerged out of their sad campaign.

He has tons of aggression but more importantly has the ability to back it up with too. He scores at a heavy run-rate and can provide the final impetus in the last few overs. His recent form in the Ashes can’t be forgotten too.
Alongside his explosive batting abilities,he can also be used as a handy bowler. Plus his fielding skills is not something unknown.

2013 IPL stats:

Batting:

Matches:7
Total runs:159
Highest score:41
Average:39.75
Strike-rate:120.45

7.Virender Sehwag-India

Known as one of the most destructive batsmen in the world,Sehwag is considered to be one of the dangerous opening batsman of all time. He is that kind of a player who goes after every delivery that deserves to be hit and also some that doesn’t.

He has won many games for India with his big hitting. However,Sehwag is yet to perform as consistently in the Twenty20 format as he does in the longer versions of the game.

Apart from being an attacking batsman,he is a handy off-spinner and can also be given the role of being the captain of the team.Delhi Daredevils might also think of using the “right to match” option for Sehwag.

2013 IPL stats:

Batting:

Matches:13
Total runs:295
Highest score:95*
Average:24.58
Strike-rate:126.60

8.Mohammad Shami-India

Shami was Indian cricket’s find in 2013. He made the ball talk in the series against the West Indies dismissing most of his scalps by uprooting their stumps. He relies heavily on his ability to be deceptive with his pace as he constantly clocks 140 kph and also derives whatever little is on offer from the surface.

He hits the seam with consistency and attacks the stumps which makes him a hard bowler to get away. He has a competent yorker which means that he will be more than serviceable in the last few over to the captain.
Shami was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchisee but was rarely used there with featuring just for 3 games last season,but will be up for grabs in the auction. But his good run of form against Australia,West Indies,Australia,South Africa and New Zealand might convince KKR to use using the “right to match” option for Shami.

2013 IPL stats:

Bowling:

Matches:3
Wickets:1
Best-bowling:1-32
Average:78.00
Economy:8.66
Strike-rate:54

9.Morne Morkel-South Africa

Again strangely not retained by Delhi Daredevils,Morkel is a tall bowler with a high arm action, high release point, good pace and the ability to generate discerning bounce off the pitch.

He has troubled batsman all over with his disconcerting pace.Earlier,Morkel featured for Rajasthan Royals but was later bought by Delhi Daredevils in the IPL 2011 auction.

He was the Delhi Daredevils’s leading wicket-taker in IPL 2011, and followed it up by winning a Purple cap in the IPL 2012 where he claimed 25 wickets in 2012.

His recent poor form might be the reason for not being retained but seeing what he can do in 2012,it might not be surprising to see him enter the million dollar club not the “right to match” feature being used by Delhi Daredevils for him.

2013 IPL stats:

Bowling:
Matches:10
Wickets:7
Best-bowling:2-27
Average:47.00
Economy:8.37
Strike-rate:21.33

10.Brett Lee-Australia

A surprise inclusion may be for many but Brett Lee has excelled as an exponent of extreme speed for over a decade. He is Australia’s fourth most successful bowler in Tests with 310 wickets in 76 matches.

Lee,who is still showing excellent form in Twenty20 games for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League in his home land can be used as a player and can also be given the role of being a mentor and encourage young talents of the team.His form for the Kolkata Knight Riders is pretty good and is also a massive star in India, giving any team that buys him plenty of star power on and off the field.

Such features of Lee might make him enter the million dollar club and KKR might also use “right to match” towards him.

2013 IPL stats:

Bowling:

Matches:3
Wickets:4
Best-bowling:2-40
Average:21.5
Economy:7.16
Strike-rate:18