10 best all-rounders bought in the IPL 7 Auctions

Limited overs cricket is not just about a pure batsman or a complete bowler. It is also about a unique set of players who excel in both aspects.

The formats of the game might have undergone a plethora of changes since 2000, but let’s face it: every team, aspiring to be world-beaters, needs the bits and pieces lot. I’m not quite sure whether they belong in Test cricket, but the ODI and Twenty20 forms would lose their sheen without these guys around.

Glory days of the past are peppered with the feats of legends such as Collis King, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee, Gary Sobers, Ian Botham and the likes. In recent times, Shane Watson has wielded the baton rather well, along with many others.

At the recently concluded auctions for the seventh season of the cash-rich Indian Premier League, there was some fierce bidding done in order to gain the services of such players. After all, in the lightning-paced format of instant cricket, they are extremely vital to the success of the team as a whole.

Here is a look at ten of the best all-rounders purchased in the auctions this time.

Albie Morkel (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Albie Morkel – From Yellow to Red & Gold

I am of the opinion that the Chennai Super Kings erred by not choosing to bring back the South African power hitter for another shot at IPL glory. Seam bowling is a tough job on the subcontinent’s dust bowls, but if the IPL shifts to the Rainbow Nation, it becomes a very useful asset on lively tracks.

Albie may have been wondering why the yellow brigade decided to dump him despite his consistent exploits for them over the past six seasons. I didn’t quite get the logic of picking Dwayne Bravo over the towering southpaw, but one thing is certain: Virat Kohli must be relieved that he won’t be suffering at Morkel’s hands anymore in the tournament.

His skills are the stuff of IPL lore, and with the Royal Challengers already in possession of an explosive line up, it will be interesting to see how he fits into their plans. He has basked in the glory of being on the winners’ podium twice; it remains to be seen if he can steer the red and gold franchise to its maiden title this time around.

I, for one, would love to see him dominate his old franchise!

Ryan ten Doeschate (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Ryan ten Doeschate – Underrate at your own risk!

The Dutch journeyman is highly underrated by most cricketing pundits. However, he has proved them wrong over and over again. Two centuries in the 2011 Cricket World Cup – one of them against England – and further exploits in the Twenty20 arena around the world serve ample proof of his abilities.

His explosive cameos down the order have bailed out the side on more than one occasion, and his accurate, skiddy medium-pacers can both contain as well as fetch wickets at crucial junctures.

He has had experience playing in South Africa; so if the venue does change for IPL 7, the Essex One-day captain can be more than a handful for the opposition. KKR did the smart thing by re-signing Ten Doeschate.

Corey Anderson (Mumbai Indians)

Corey Anderson – Rising Star

Ever since he smashed Shahid Afridi’s 17-year-old record for the fastest ODI century, the 23-year old Kiwi all-rounder has become the cynosure of all eyes. Combining incandescent, uninhibited stroke play with accurate, deadly left-arm seam bowling, Anderson is poised to go places in his fledgling career.

The Mumbai Indians setup is the perfect launch pad for the Northern Districts player; not only does he get to play alongside the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Kieron Pollard, but also gets to interact with Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble.

It remains to be seen if he can keep persistent injuries at bay. His budding career nearly ended because of those recurring injuries, prompting him to switch to the Northern Districts from Canterbury. Nevertheless, he is one prize catch the RIL-owned franchise should be proud of.

Yuvraj Singh (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Yuvraj Singh – The Prince Returns!

Most might consider him a pure batsman, but for me, the Punjab dasher is a world-class all-rounder: the sort that the Indian cricket team sorely needs at this point of time. He won the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award at the 2011 WC not for his batting alone; his slow left-armers also proved to be useful, despite Kevin Pietersen calling them pie-chuckers.

Even though he may be out of form and match practice after a remarkable comeback from cancer, there is one undeniable fact: Yuvraj Singh remains India’s best T20 player at the moment. He can still change the course of a game with his power hitting, acrobatic fielding and, rather underrated, nagging bowling.

His presence has virtually made the Royal Challengers’ lineup resemble an impregnable fortress, and he will be itching to make a telling statement before heading off for the World T20 championships. Kohli will look to getting some guidance in terms of strategy from his illustrious senior, while the southpaw will chase redemption as he prepares for a gruelling tournament ahead.

The Prince has returned. I hope he becomes the King this time.

Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals)

Steve Smith – Australian Tyro!

Tyro – that’s the word which comes to my mind when talking about Steven Peter Deveraux Smith, one of the rising stars in Australian cricket at the moment. He has effortlessly filled the role of a batting all-rounder for the Kangaroos, and in his stint with the now-defunct Pune Warriors, he did reasonably well.

The enthusiasm and freshness of youth that the 24-year-old brings to the game is enough to pep up any team. He can clear the ropes at will, possesses the ability to bring out the innovative strokes when required, and is a top-class fielder. A welcome addition to the Rajasthan Royals, the dynamic cricketer can be counted upon to deliver the goods when needed.

For the blond-haired Smith, it won’t be too different from representing Australia. After all, he will get to share the dressing room with some of his national teammates!

Darren Sammy (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Darren Sammy – Making it count?

The Caribbean all-rounder has been retained by the Sunrisers for the seventh season (via RTM card), and he is quite a handful in the shorter versions. For someone who led the West Indies to their first World T20 title, Sammy is grossly under-rated, and the dips in form haven’t helped much.

His heroics enabled the Sunrisers to reach the playoffs of the sixth edition, and despite a powerful all-round performance in the Eliminator, he couldn’t take his side over the finish line. He can keep a check on the runs with his steady pace while landing the huge hits every now and then to push the scoring along.

We can definitely expect more from the St Lucia native as he shapes up to take his franchise through to IPL glory.

Irfan Pathan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Irfan Pathan – Another Redemption Trail?

The Indian discard has been working hard in anticipation of another shot at turning out for the national team. Swing, his chief weapon that had deserted him earlier, seems to have returned to his arsenal. But for his struggles with injuries and form, Irfan Pathan might have regained his place in time for the NZ tour.

He is a fitter, wiser cricketer now. Stints with Kings XI and the Daredevils have taught him to be patient and focus on his key strengths. Irfan can swing the ball both ways and has also added a yard of pace in his run-up.

With the bat, the younger Pathan can send a few into orbit or keep the scorecard moving along at a comfortable pace. He played some good knocks for the Daredevils. The 29-year-old bolsters the Sunrisers’ pace attack, making it one of the more formidable lineups in this edition.

It is time for redemption, and the Baroda left-arm seamer will be keen to remind the national selectors that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

Jacques Kallis (Kolkata Knight Riders)

King Kallis – One Last Dance

The veteran South African all-rounder brought down the curtains on an illustrious Test career with a remarkable century against India in December 2013. With an eye on the 2015 World Cup, he would want to view the IPL sojourn as a means of getting some good match practice and stay fit.

Kallis has been a pillar of strength since the 2010 edition when he began opening the innings for the Royal Challengers. A switch to Kolkata resulted in him becoming part of a victorious set up in 2012, after having come agonizingly close in 2009. A strong, graceful batsman whose elegant cover drives are a visual treat, the Cape Town native is also a useful bowler, capable of picking up wickets at key intervals.

KKR would love to have ‘King Kallis’ repeat his consistency of 2012, and the veteran will want to sign off in style, too. Another prized catch for the former champions!

Shakib al Hasan (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Shakib al Hasan – Never Giving up!

The former Bangladesh skipper is yet another vital cog in KKR’s scheme of things. His left-arm spin is highly regarded in international circles, and he forms a potent combination with West Indies’ mystery spinner Sunil Narine. On slower subcontinental tracks, he is most effective, bowling tight lines and altering his pace subtly to keep the batsmen on a tight leash.

Shakib has also rescued the Knight Riders from precarious positions with his free-flowing batting, and his cameos have secured important victories for his side. He is a fine addition to the Kolkata franchise, and they will look to him to help them regain the trophy they won in 2012.

Thissara Perera (Kings XI Punjab)

Thissara Perera – Can he get back the glory for Punjab?

The Sri Lankan youngster was the only one from his country to be purchased at the auctions this year. Known for his hard-hitting abilities down the order, his pyrotechnics have propelled his team to victory more often than not.

His blazing 57-run knock against Trinidad and Tobago in the 2013 Champions League is one of the many testaments to his free-flowing approach while at the crease. In addition, he can be a miserly customer when bowling; but he can be a bit profligate at times, too.

Purchased by Kings XI Punjab for this season, Perera might just prove to be one of their chief weapons as they pursue their first title in seven years.