IPL 2018: Best pick by each franchise in the auction

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction done and dusted, all the teams look very settled. All the franchises have got the players they wanted. The eleventh edition of IPL promises much better excitement and the franchises would have already started their homework to figure out the best possible combinations. It is very important to have a settled XI in mind before the tournament kicks off. The auction like always lived up to all the hype that surrounded it. The franchises acquired some steal deals and also had to spend some big money on a few players. Iconic T20 players like Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, and many others were bought at just their base price surprising everyone. There were also some top picks that the franchises made that stood out. Here is the top picks made by each franchise: 1. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Shakib Al Hasan Shakib Al Hasan (Photo Source: Getty Images) | CricTracker.com Sunrisers Hyderabad has always struggled with their middle order. David Warner is the biggest strength of the team and has been a strong pillar in their success. He scored in excess of 500 runs in every season he played for the team. Their batting has revolved all around Warner and Shikhar Dhawan and that has been a problem. But, they addressed this issue in the auction this year. They have made some invaluable picks for the middle order strengthening their side further. They’ve always had a formidable bowling attack. With the addition of Shakib Al Hasan, SRH not only have a good bowling option but also a great batsman to take care of the middle overs. He is a free-flowing stroke-maker and further adds some good stability to their lineup. They bought him for just INR 2 crores and is their best pick. 2. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Chris Woakes Chris Woakes (Photo Source: Getty Images) | CricTracker.com The weakest link for the Royal Challengers Bangalore has been their bowling. They have a lethal batting lineup but fall behind with their bowling. Although they tried purchasing some T20 specialists earlier, none of them was as effective. Their bowling is one of the biggest reasons why they couldn’t lift the title back in 2016. It got even worse in 2017 and they ended up last on the points table. Although they tried to address this issue in this auction, they haven’t got someone really consistent. However, RCB ensured that they added some good bowling all-rounders in the squad. They signed Chris Woakes for INR 7.80 crores and he can be a great resource with the ball. He comes in very handy with the bat lower down the order and considering his all-round abilities can emerge as the most valuable player. 3. Chennai Super Kings – Kedar Jadhav Kedar Jadhav (Photo Source: Getty Images) | CricTracker.com The Super Kings who are making a comeback this season laid a lot of emphasis on experience. CSK is one of the most successful IPL teams despite being suspended for a couple of seasons. Although most of their players are above 30, they all have a great T20 experience. These players can hit the ball big and are very acrobatic fielders. Their bowling too seems alright. However, with age not on the side of most of these cricketers, it would be very interesting to see how they will fare this season. This will also determine the franchises’ future as far as their player selection is concerned. CSK have picked Kedar Jadhav in their squad for INR 7.80 crores and is a very good addition to the squad. He had some good amount of success with the RCB earlier. Given MS Dhoni‘s liking for spinners, especially part-timers, Kedar could be a very good weapon for the skipper against the left-handers. Dhoni was also the man who spotted Kedar’s talent with the ball. He had never bowled much even at the first-class level. This little man packs a punch and can be more than handy with the bat. 4. Kolkata Knight Riders – Chris Lynn Chris Lynn (Photo Source: Getty Images) | CricTracker.com The Kolkata Knight Riders released many of their top performers in the auction. However, they have managed to retain their core players and have built the squad around them. Also, KKR will have to appoint a new captain this season. They didn’t pick a ready-made captain and will have to hand over the responsibility to someone they trust can lead the team. Chris Lynn was one of the best buys for KKR in the auction. They decided to go all out for him and didn’t use the RTM card. Lynn’s hitting abilities and what he can do with the bat is known to one and all and after what he did in the 2017 season this man will carry a lot of expectations from the team as well as the fans. He is currently in great form playing in leagues all around the world. KKR brought him out for INR 9.6 crores. 5. Delhi Daredevils – Colin Munro Colin Munro (Photo Source: Getty Images) | CricTracker.com Delhi Daredevils got their former skipper, Gautam Gambhir back in the auction this year. He had a very successful stint with the KKR and will hope to emulate the same kind of success for DD. The Daredevils have put together a side that has a mixture of experience and youth. They were one of the better teams in the auction this year. DD roped in Ricky Ponting as the head coach expecting a change in fortunes. Colin Munro for just INR 1.90 crores was an absolute steal deal for the Daredevils. He is a highly destructive T20 player and is the only man to have three T20I centuries. Munro has been in some great form in recent times and was expected to go for a much higher price. He is expected to take up the opening responsibilities for Delhi this season and given them flying starts. 6. Mumbai Indians – Evin Lewis Evin Lewis (Photo Source: Getty Images) | CricTracker.com The Mumbai Indians is another franchise that had a set plan in hand and worked around it with precision. MI retained their core and the rest of the squad will revolve around them. They brought 25 players in this auction which include some big names The Mumbai Indians have a very well settled batting order going into the 2018 edition of the IPL. Mumbai roped in a West Indian batsman to open the innings for them. Evin Lewis is one of the best hitters of the cricket ball and can send the ball deep into the stands at ease. He is one of the best in the business in the T20 format and can send shivers down to the opposition once he gets going. Lewis was a great buy for MI coming at just INR 3.80 crores. 7. Rajasthan Royals – D’Arcy Short D’Arcy Short (Photo Source: Getty Images) | CricTracker.com D’Arcy Short has had a phenomenal BBL season and is the leading run-scorer out there. He packs a punch and can hit the ball long. He is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and can roll his arm over as and when required. D’Arcy Short plays for the Hobart Hurricanes and he blasted the highest individual score in BBL history – 122* this season. He also averages close to 56 in the BBL this year. The Rajasthan Royals did very well to buy him at just INR 4 crores and is one of their top purchases this season. He can be a great asset for the team at the top of the order and can provide some good starts. However, it would be very interesting to see how he fares in the subcontinent conditions. Many good players in the past have failed to make a mark on the Indian pitches earlier. 8. Kings XI Punjab – KL Rahul KL Rahul(Photo Source: Getty Images) | CricTracker.com The Punjab team was on a shopping spree in the auction this year. They raised the paddle for almost every possible player. Also, they made some economical buys in the form of Yuvraj Singh and Chris Gayle. However, many opined that they didn’t make the best choices while using their RTM cards and also let go Sandeep Sharma who was a top performer for them. However, their best signing has to be Indian opener, KL Rahul. There was a huge bidding war between KXIP and SRH to acquire his services. Rahul is a terrific performer in T20s and is a great addition. Moreover, he doubles up as a wicketkeeping option and the team hasn’t picked a full-time keeper having bought him for INR 11 crore.

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