With the much-anticipated 2020 IPL transfer window deadline approaching (November 14), all eight franchise fans are eagerly waiting for their favorite teams to announce the list of players to retain and let go.
Team management must find identify weaknesses, remaining budget, the form of players and auction strategies before finalizing the list of players to retain and let go. The auction will take place in Kolkata on December 19th for the thirteenth edition of the season.
Each team, including defending champion Mumbai Indians, will try to make their squads stronger by getting into their ranks the right mix of young and experienced stars. There are a few players who must be retained in spite of coming in as replacements.
Let’s take a look at 3 replacement signings who should be retained for IPL 2020
1. Dale Steyn
Speed gun Dale Seyn, who initially went unsold at the 2019 auction, made a comeback to the IPL last season after being signed at its base price of INR 1.5 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Coming in as a replacement for the injured Aussie pacer Nathan Coulter Nile, he performed very well. In his comeback game against Kolkata Knight Riders on their home ground, the veteran performed brilliantly by removing Chris Lynn and Shubham Gill to finish with figures of 2/40.
In the next game against Chennai Super Kings at home, Steyn continued his impressive run with two breakthroughs (Shane Watson and Suresh Raina) in the very first over of CSK’s innings. It laid the foundation for the narrow one-run win of the home team amid the heroics of MS Dhoni. Unfortunately, he was ruled out of the remainder of 2019 IPL as he suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup as well.
But the impact he made as a replacement was huge. The 36-year-old who announced his retirement from Test Cricket in August 2019 will look forward to unleashing his usual best at IPL 2020. His 3/25 results for Cape Town Blitz in the 2019 Mzansi Super League’s first match against Jozi Stars on Friday state that he’s still robust and has a lot of cricket left in him. RCB must consider releasing Tim Southee pacer who was rather ineffective and must go in for Steyn despite the return of Coulter Nile.
2. Alzarri Joseph
The young 22-year-old was roped in for the injured Kiwi pacer Adam Milne as a backup for Mumbai Indians. By delivering a record-breaking spell of 6/12, the Antiguan pacer who made his IPL debut against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium captured the headlines in his very first match.
With his fiery spell, Alzarri Joseph broke Sohail Tanvir’s eleven-year-old record in IPL history (6/14) of best figures. For Mumbai Indians, he played just three games before being ruled out because of injuring his shoulder during a league game against Rajasthan Royals
Mitchell McClenaghan, who is not as consistent (three wickets in five matches in 2019 IPL) as he was before, and veteran Lasith Malinga pushing 36 and Jason Behrendorff failing to deliver last season (five wickets in five matches at an economy of 8.68), the Mumbai franchise would need someone like Joseph to be a crucial cog in their bowling attack.
3. Matthew Kelly
Anrich Nortje, the Proteas pacer who was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders at 2019 IPL auction was ruled out of the entire season, due to a shoulder injury just days before the tournament began. This led the team management to rope in Perth Scorchers pace bowler Matthew Kelly. Though many did not about Kelly in IPL circles, former Australian batsman Simon Katich who was also assistant coach of KKR (played for Perth Scorchers in Big Bash League) was sure about the 24-year-old’s potential. A well-known player for his scorching yorkers, Kelly, is a talented seamer who effortlessly touches the 150-kph mark. In the Big Bash, Kelly has been exceptional with his fiery spells and has caught the attention of several Aussie legends.
Twitter Reaction:
This guy Matt Kelly from @ScorchersBBL has the best yorker in the competition . One to keep a close eye on.
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) February 1, 2019
Harry Gurney (Seven wickets in eight matches at an economy of 8.81) along with the left-arm seamer and Lockie Ferguson (two wickets in five matches) will strengthen the pace attack of KKR.
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