IPL 2020: 5 Best signings in the auction

There are some things in gentlemen’s game that might still intrigue the cricketing fraternity because of the unpredictability surrounding it. Be it England‘s weather, Pakistan’s on-field performance or an IPL auction- even a crystal ball cannot predict the outcome of these events. In such cases, it is always better to enjoy the events rather than thinking about the logic behind it. So at the moment, the cricketing community is fresh from another mysterious IPL auction.

Following its norm once again, the franchises made interesting choices in the auction. While most of them have surprised the best of the experts a select few make complete sense. In simple terms, there are players whose signings will mostly result in positive results in the 13th edition of the IPL. Not only their addition will strengthen their respective squads but they might also turn out to be the biggest match-winners at the end of IPL 2020.

Here is the list of 5 best signings of the auction :

1. Eoin Morgan – Kolkata Knight Riders (5.25 crores)

Probably the England player who should have more matches than any other one in the biggest T20 league of the globe. However, things have not panned out as expected for Eoin Morgan. The World Cup-winning captain has always found it difficult to get into the IPL billboard with his white-ball credentials.

Having said that now Morgan has one more opportunity to set the things right in the next years’ event as he has returned to his former IPL ally, Kolkata Knight Riders. The southpaw has been bagged for a whopping amount of 5.25 crores and he is worth every penny. His striking abilities coupled with his leadership qualities make him a perfect fit for the Purple team.

His inclusion can be considered as the biggest positive for the Kolkata franchise in this year’s auction. So it will not be a surprise if he is handed over the captaincy charges ahead of the season. If not then he will provide the required stability in the middle-order and his abundant T20 experience will make things easier for Dinesh Karthik’s troupe. Considering the team’s recent turmoil Morgan is the right candidate for taking them back to their glory days.

2. Chris Lynn – Mumbai Indians (2 crores)

The Australian cricketers are well-sought commodities in the IPL market. It can be validated from the top buys of this year’s IPL sell-off where Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins became million-dollar babies. Apart from them, they are a bunch of others who have also found new homes in the auction and one of them is Chris Lynn.

After being released from the KKR camp everybody must have thought that he will be bought back for a lower price but his story has taken a new turn. The explosive top-order batsman will join the Mumbai franchise for the 13th edition of the IPL. What’s more interesting is that he only fetched 2 crores which is almost 5 times less than his last year’s salary.

His presence will increase the batting firepower of the Mumbai team. The true surfaces of Wankhede will suit his batting style and if he gets going then it will be a nightmare for the opposition bowlers. He was in tremendous form in the recently concluded T10 league where he amassed 371 runs in 8 games. Chris Lynn might be disappointed with his reduced pay but the 4-time IPL champions will be more than happy to capture him for his base price.

3. Yashasvi Jaiswal – Rajasthan Royals (2.40 crores)

Many cricketing fans might be surprised by finding this name on the list but there is every reason to believe that Yashasvi Jaiswal can be the breakout star of IPL 2020. The Mumbai teenager has been making the right noises very early in his career. Now as expected he has been rewarded with an IPL contract which might be the next big thing in his cricketing journey.

The 17-year old will be signing a hefty pay-cheque of 2.40 crores in his debut IPL season. More than his financial gain it will be a great learning experience for him to share the dressing room with modern-day greats like Steve Smith and Ben Stokes. The southpaw will be watched from close quarters as he has already shown his potential in the domestic circuit.

Recently Jaiswal headlined the newspapers when he crunched a double century in the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Not only he became the youngest cricketer to achieve the feat but he also ended up as one of the leading run-getters in the tournament with 564 runs in 6 games. He can be Rajasthan‘s solution for their opening conundrum as he can form a deadly combo with Jos Buttler. His presence will also allow the Pink team to utilize Robin Uthappa in the middle-order.

4. Sam Curran – Chennai Super Kings (5.50 crores)

The franchise which usually arrives at the auction table with a set plan is none other Chennai Super Kings. It can be verified from their purchases in the 13th IPL auctions where they included 5 more comrades to the Yellow Army. One being the English all-rounder Sam Curran, who has already been termed a long-term prospect by the cricketing pundits.

The youngest of the Curran brothers has taken giant strides in his short career and that’s why he attracted a bountiful amount of 5.50 crores in this auction. He has the ability to change the course of the game within a matter of overs and it can be validated from his stint with the Punjab team. Now he will be looking to continue his mojo with the MS Dhoni-led side in the 2020 IPL.

Sam’s left arm action will surely add another dimension to Chennai’s bowling unit. Along with it, his inclusion in the playing XI will also increase the batting depth of the team. Add to that his athletic fielding and it can be easily said that he is a complete package for this format. With Dwayne Bravo’s abilities on the wane, CSK has done the right thing by investing in Curran. It will be a treat to watch him and Deepak Chahar operate in powerplay overs as they both can wreak havoc on the opposition with their new-ball skills.

5. Alex Carey – Delhi Capitals (2.40 crores)

Only a handful of them will have the courage to face the chin music of Jofra Archer with a broken jaw. Yes, I am talking about Alex Carey who did the same in the 2019 World Cup. With his valiant efforts, he became one of the shining stars of the multi-nation tournament. So it would have been unfair if he went unsold in this year’s IPL sell-off.

Very rightly now he has got his maiden ticket to this showpiece event and he will be joining the Delhi Capitals for the 2020 IPL. He can be considered as one of the steals of this auction as he has been snapped up for just 2.40 crores. Delhi has made the right choice by picking a player like him who is known for his versatile cricketing skillset.

Especially his finishing skills will be crucial for the franchise as they have usually struggled to score runs in the end-overs. Also with his experience of batting at different positions Carey can be used as a floater whenever the team will be in search of quick runs. Apart from these, he is a safe bet behind the stumps and it can be proved from his World Cup numbers where he set a record by bagging 18 catches. Finally, in recent times Rishabh Pant has not been good with his glovework so his presence will be a blessing for the Capitals.

These players might not have hit jackpot in this year’s auction but they can become the superstars of the upcoming IPL saga.