The third edition of IPL is waiting to be unleashed. With less than 60 days remaining for the mega event to kick off, all the teams are gearing up waiting for the IPL auction to begin. All teams would be looking to fill up the remaining foreign players’ positions and strengthen their teams and may be add appropriate back ups.The spots free with various teams as given out by Lalit Modi are -? CSK 1,DC 2,DD 1,KKR 1(tbc),KXIP 1,MI 2,RCB 1(tbc),RR 2.
As announced by Ramansundar "finally -looks like it will be 66 players in the auction. We are all set for the 19th Jan auction day at the Oberoi Trident BKC Mumbai."
The team owners (SRK, Preity Zinta and others) along with the coaching staff would have looked into the list by now and already made a list of players they want to reinforce their team with. This auction gives all the teams to freshen up their line-ups as with the addition of new players, new characters are added to the squad. This would bring out new energies in the training sessions and during the matches. After all, addition of a new player means more competition for places and hence evryone needs to be on their toes.
The Rajasthan Royals came up trumps in the first season but the absence of Shane Watson did them in during season 2, so i think they will be keeping an eye on Shahid Afridi. After all their captain also practises the same art- leg-spin to go along with his devastating batting.
The Kings-XI had a very good team in IPL-2. This may as well go for their star bowler during that season - Yusuf Abdullah as he was a hit being the deck bowler suited for the flat pitches. Delhi Daredevils have made a smart move for Moises Henriques during the transfer window. So one doesnt know which base is left uncovered for the team - may be another fast bowler like Shane Bond to go along with the legend Glenn Mcgrath. KKR really need to pull up their socks and give a good account of themselves this season. For that, they might really need some big hitters like Keiron Pollard or Brad Haddin or even Imran Nazir.
Deccan Chargers can bolster their pace attack by going for the highly talented and fast Keimar Roach to go along with the mercurial Fiedel Edwards. Mumbai Indians can go for Abdul Razzaq, the all-rounder from Pakistan to give more balance to their team. Chennai Superkings are really blessed with superb all-rounders and a well rounded team and may take a punt with some upcoming players like Eoin Morgan, Wayne Parnell or Thisara Perera. Finally my team - the Royal Challengers can go for the Bangladesh skipper Sakhind-al Hasan as he has been performing superbly in the international arena. A spinning all-rounder best suits the sub-continental conditions and this bloke is equally adept with bat and ball as also being well versed with the conditions. My other choice would be the supremely talented and stylish Umar Akmal. He is a star for the future and his aggressive batting is made for the T-20. He can keep the healthy pressure up for places in the middle order.
There will be many more talents like the young Mohammad Aamer, the exhilirating Imran nazir, the accurate Peter Siddle, the versatile Rana Naveed up for grabs along with some good domestic performers like Graham Manou, Clint McKay, Rory Klienveld and Adam Vodges.
The Buzz thats going on for the auction and ultimately in the lead up to IPL-3 is unmistakable. In all, this auction is sure going to be interesting as it gives oppurtunity for all teams to bolster their squads so that we can have yet another cracking IPL this season!!!
