KXIP got their auction right, almost.
Virender Sehwag's signature was very clear in Punjab's auction strategy. Right from the word go, KXIP went for the jugular to get big ticket foreign and Indian players. Preity Zinta almost looked like a kid in a candy shop, virtually targetting almost players. While many of their plans were scuttled by other teams using RTM, KXIP did manage to accumulate a formidable group on day 1.
Indian batting stars bought by KXIP included Nair, Yuvi, Mayank, KL Rahul. On Sunday, they also got Manoj Tiwary and Akshdeep Nath in their ranks. The foreign batting stars KXIP got on Day 1 were Miller, Stoinis. They also got R Ashwin on Day 1, who is most likely to be the captain of the squad. On Day 2, KXIP tried to do course correction by heavily investing on bowlers. They picked up 16-year-old Mujeeb Zadran for pay package of Rs 4 cr, and Andrew Tye for Rs 7.2 crore. Barinder Sran and Mohit Sharma are also good buys for KXIP. But none of them are highly paced in the pecking order of Indian fast bowlers. KXIP ended the auction in style by picking up Chris Gayle in the second outing. Sehwag later said that he doesn't hope that Gayle will play all the matches, but when he gets going, he will win the match for Punjab.
KXIP team certainly looks batting heavy in the final count. Their top order is sorted with KL Rahul, Nair, Finch, Yuvi, Miller and others in the mix. In Axar and Ashwin, they have two frontline spinners. The backups though are largely unheralded names in Pardeep Sahu (leggie). Mayank Dagar and Manjur Dar (off-break bowler). There is no established keeper in the side and KL Rahul is likely to do the duty. Good luck keeping to R-Ashwin's dusraas.
A team can only play 4 foreigners so most likely KXIP can't play more than 1 overseas player as bowler. So the Indian pacers have to do the heavy lifting and work will be cut out for the likes of Barinder Sran, Mohit Sharma and Ankit Rajpoot.
Strength:Arguably best batting line-up
Weakness: Lack of blue-chip Indian pacers and specialist A-lister wicket-keeper
Auction Ratings: 7/10
Full team:
KL Rahul Batsman
Ravichandran Ashwin All-Rounder
Andrew Tye Bowler
Aaron Finch Batsman
Marcus Stoinis All-Rounder (RTM)
Karun Nair Batsman
Mujeeb Zadran Bowler
Ankit Singh Rajpoot Bowler
David Miller Batsman (RTM)
Mohit Sharma Bowler (RTM)
Barinder Singh Sran Bowler
Yuvraj Singh All-Rounder
Christopher Gayle Batsman
Ben Dwarshuis Bowler
Akshdeep Nath All-Rounder
Manoj Tiwary Batsman
Mayank Agarwal Batsman
Manzoor Dar All-Rounder
Pardeep Sahu Bowler
Mayank Dagar
Axar Patel (R)
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