5 Star performers from Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to watch out for in the IPL 2021 Auction

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2020-21 has entered the quarterfinal stage and the quality of cricket on display has been of a very high level. What has been refreshing to see is that while the big names and teams have struggled, it is the relative unknowns who have come up and made their mark. IPL teams, fresh from layoffs and in need of new faces, certainly have plenty to choose from at the auction – quantity and especially quality-wise.

Here is a profile of the top five players from the tournament till now and the IPL teams that will be a good fit for them:

1. Mohammed Azharuddeen (Right Hand Batsman/Wicketkeeper, Kerala, 214 runs)

Kerala were in the devastating form initially in the tournament and were in the race to qualify for the quarterfinals till the last over of their last group game. Key to this run was the form of Mohammed Azharuddeen, which saw him score an unbeaten 54-ball-137 against Mumbai, the first hundred ever by a Kerala batsman in T20 cricket.

Azharuddeen is confident and plays his strokes fearlessly, which means franchises will have on their ranks a player who, despite playing in what will be his first IPL, isn’t likely to get unnerved by the occasion. What is particularly surprising is that despite a seemingly small frame, clearing boundaries never looks like a matter of concern for him.

Teams that will be a good fit:

Rajasthan Royals- Newly appointed captain Sanju Samson, who also captained Kerala in SMAT, knows fully well how destructive Azharuddeen can be if he gets going. Now that Robin Uthappa has been traded to Chennai Super Kings, RR need an opener and Azharuddeencan form an explosive pairing with another batsman who has similar attributes but wasn’t given a go by the management last time around- Manan Vohra.

Kolkata Knight Riders- KKR already have an exciting opening prospect in Shubman Gill, but finding a reliable partner for him at the other end was a struggle last time. The experiment of trying Sunil Narine failed to fetch returns and while Rahul Tripathi impressed with his gutsy performances, the team will undoubtedly be on the lookout for another opening batsman. Azharuddeen is a wicket-keeper too, so can fill the requirement of a backup keeper in the squad.

Royal Challengers Bangalore- With the release of Aaron Finch and the retirement of Parthiv Patel, RCB need a partner for DevduttPadikkal which would allow Virat Kohli to come in at a one-down position. The right hand-left hand combination between Azharuddeen and Padikkal can be a good ploy to unsettle bowlers as well.

Chennai Super Kings-Just like RCB, CSK too need an opener to complement the promising Ruturaj Gaikwad. With a requirement of young faces in the squad for rebuilding, Azharuddeen can be looked at as a long-term prospect, given his age and potential.

2. Jalaj Saxena (Off-spinner/Righthand batsman, Kerala, 10 wickets)

Jalaj Saxena has been known more as a longer-format man, perhaps due to the records he has kept making and breaking in the course of his 15-year Ranji career. However, he succeeded in proving his efficacy in the shortest format as well. Twice he recorded three-wicket hauls- against Mumbai and Pondicherry, and was Kerala’s goto bowler in the tournament whenever the going got tough for the team.

Saxena possesses a special knack for picking wickets at crucial junctures, often in a heap, due to his ability to predict the batsman’s actions and variations he possesses such as the carrom ball. What has been even more remarkable is his consistency and given his more than handy batting ability, from the all-rounders that will feature in the auction from the domestic circuit, he is certainly the best option.

Teams that would be a good fit:

Rajasthan Royals- Sanju Samson relied heavily on Saxena when wickets were hard to come by and almost every time the ball was handed over to him, he made an instant impact. The spin department was hit hard last season in a disappointing campaign for the RR team and having a wicket-taker such as Saxena in the ranks can just be what the side requires.

Kings XI Punjab- Saxena can be a good pick given that the squad currently does not have an all-rounder in its ranks, after releasing Krishnappa Gowtham. The lack of a genuine off-spinner is also something to be considered after the release of Mujeeb Ur Rahman. For either of the players, Saxena can be an ideal like-for-like replacement.

His attacking approach can combine well with that of Ravi Bishnoi, who was in fine form the last season but lacked a reliable partner at the other end. Head coach Anil Kumble knows Saxena well from his stint as a mentor with Mumbai Indians and can harness the best out of him as he has done with Bishnoi.

Chennai Super Kings- The squad does not have an off-spinner in its ranks with Harbhajan Singh not being a part of the setup. Saxena requires the captain’s trust and can do an excellent job if he plays under MS Dhoni’s leadership.

3. Avi Barot (Right-hand batsman/Wicketkeeper, 283 runs, Saurashtra)

Chosen as the Under-19 Indian cricketer of the year in 2011, Barot struggled to make a name for himself in senior cricket. This was until the moment he slammed a whirlwind 122 against Goa in just 53 balls in this year’s SMAT. While Goa may not be considered an opposition of the highest quality, what has been remarkable is the ease with which Barot has replicated his form in other games involving tougher opponents, swiftly becoming the 2nd highest run-scorer in the tournament.

His ability to score quickly can be gauged from the fact that amongst the batsmen who have faced over 100 balls, Barot’s strike-rate of 185 is the 2nd highest. Has been in fine form this season and his being a wicket-keeper will be a welcome bonus for many IPL sides.

Teams that would be a good fit:

Rajasthan Royals-With only two specialist openers in the squad, Barot, with his attacking approach, can be an effective option to have at the top of the order for the franchise.

Kolkata Knight Riders-Similar to Azharuddeen, can fill up the backup wicketkeeping spot in the squad apart from providing a credible alternative to the two openers- Gill and Tripathi.

4. Sheldon Jackson (Right-hand batsman/Wicketkeeper, 242 runs, Pondicherry)

Jackson is a seasoned campaigner in the domestic circuit and after establishing himself as a reliable keeper-batsman for Saurashtra, he has now shifted base to Pondicherry. Against Andhra, he scored a brilliant century, helping his team register the highest ever chase in the history of the tournament.

Given that he has played in the IPL before and considering his overall experience, franchises can expect a player who is ready for the occasion.

Teams that would be a good fit:

Kolkata Knight Riders- KKR need a backup keeper and were bogged down by middle-order struggles last season. Jackson has played for the side previously and a return may not be a bad idea given that the hard-hitting batsman has worked on his batting and fitness in the intervening period and has taken his game to the next level.

Delhi Capitals-Jackson’s ability to slot across the order can come in handy for the team, whose middle-order often times went missing in crunch situations last season.

Chennai Super Kings-With many players- mostly batsman- released, and the middle order troubles faced last season, Jackson can be a good addition to the squad.

5. Chetan Sakariya (Left-arm fast bowler, Saurashtra, 12 wickets)

Sakariya made his debut for Saurashtra in the 2017-18 season and has grown rapidly in stature ever since. In this year’s SMAT, he has bowled the 2nd highest dot balls (65) and also took a five-for against Vidarbha while conceding just 11 runs from his quota of 4 overs. His economy rate of 4.90, for someone who bowls at the start as well as at the death, is also very impressive.

Among the fast bowling options to feature in the auction from the domestic circuit, Sakariya certainly seems to be the best of the lot.

Teams that would be a good fit:

Mumbai Indians-5 fast bowlers have been released by MI and Sakariya’s wicket-taking ability as well as the way he shackles batsman is reminiscent of a young Jasprit Bumrah. He can be an important asset for the team in the short-run and given his age, if he is groomed well, also in the long-run.

Royal Challengers Bangalore- RCB currently lacks a left-arm bowling option in the squad following the release of Isuru Udana. Sakariya can be a potent weapon in the team’s arsenal to complement the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini.

Honorable mentions:

Sachin Baby (Left-hand batsman, Kerala, 161 runs)

While his talent was never in doubt, Baby has struggled for consistency over the years and question marks were raised over his attitude in the recent past. However, he seems to have turned a corner and can be a great option to have in the ranks due to his power-hitting ability that can instantly change the course of a game.

His brilliant knock of 68 almost took the game away from Haryana, coming at a time when his team looked well out of the chase.

Lukman Meriwala (Left-arm fast bowler, Gujarat, 11 wickets)

Meriwala has impressed in Baroda’s unbeaten streak in the tournament, and his highlight performance was a five-for against Chhattisgarh wherein he conceded just 8 runs. Has been consistently performing in domestic T20 cricket for some time now (took a five-for in last year’s SMAT) and is one of the most reliable wicket-taking fast bowlers around.

Prerak Mankad (Right-hand batsman, Saurashtra, 205 runs)

Amongst players who have faced over 100 balls, Mankad’s strike-rate of 181 is the 3rd highest in the tournament. Comfortable with lofting the ball as well as playing it on the ground, he can be a good middle-order option to consider.

Note: All the statistics provided above are latest up to 25th January 2021 and collated from BCCI and ESPNCricinfo

~ Written by Dr. Rohit Prabhudesai