IPL 2021 Auction: The IPL Auctions are as lucrative and enticing to the fans as much as the game itself. The auction of 2021 is just a few days away, and franchises will have their permutations and combinations in place by now.
With all the buzz of the upcoming auctions looming around us, we roll-out the 5 most anticipated players who expected to be picked up by Kings XI Punjab on February 18th in Chennai and whose auction results will be most awaited.
Carlos Brathwaite:
The hero of the West Indies ICC World Cup 2016 win, Carlos Brathwaite, surprisingly did not get an IPL contract in 2020. All-rounder has made a name for himself by performing well in the shortest format of the game. KXIP desperately needs an excellent overseas all-rounder, and Carlos Brathwaite can be a proper solution to their woes.
Mitchell Starc:
The left-arm fast bowlers are one of the most feared pacers in world cricket right now. He is currently playing for the New South Wales team in the Sheffield Shield. Mitchell Starc has shown interest in returning to the IPL, and he may come back to the league for the next years.
Colin de Grandhomme:
Since KXIP are unlikely to retain Maxwell for the next season, they could opt for Colin de Grandhomme’s service. The pitch in Mohali will be great for his medium-pace bowling. Also, he can smack a few big shots in the slog overs.
Ish Sodhi:
The Preity Zinta owned franchise will probably hunt for a new overseas spin bowling option, and new Zealand’s veteran spinner Ish Sodhi Could be a decent addition. Ish Sodhi has represented the Rajasthan Royal in the past. He played 8 games for the inaugural champions, taking 9 wickets at an economy rate of 6.70.
Rohan Kadam:
Another issue that the KXIP faced in IPL 2020 was the poor form of their Indian middle-order batsman. The players of KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, and Chris Gayle scored a majority of runs for the team. KXIP had the local batsman in the likes of Simran Singh, Karun Nair, and Sarfraz Khan in their squad.
However, none of the three players could play consistently. The team management will be keen to strengthen their middle-order ahead of this season, and uncapped players Rohan Kadam could back the top 4 to perfection. Kadam plays for Karnataka in domestic cricket.