The Arshdeep Singh-Punjab Kings (PBKS) journey has probably come to an end for the foreseeable future. Perhaps believing that the left-arm quick didn't deserve the ₹18 crore sum they needed to take out for him, PBKS let him go, only retaining two uncapped players -- Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh.
Arshdeep promptly responded by removing all social media posts about the franchise, some pre-dating his India debut. The franchise might still be able to get him back in the auction, but currently, it must be an awkward situation for the player who was a marquee star and a World Cup winner for his home franchise.
If the parties have indeed decided to move on, Arshdeep would surely get high demand from almost all of the nine other teams. He's a left-arm quick, second in line for India in T20Is after Jasprit Bumrah, ability to bowl in all three phases of an innings and manage pressure.
Below, we have listed three teams that could be a good match for the possible second half of his journey, even if it takes a good part of their remaining budget:
#3 Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), under head coach Andy Flower and director of cricket Mo Bobat, seem to be turning a corner in terms of strategy.
By retaining their three best Indian T20 players from last season -- Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal -- they have held onto a good core while keeping a massive ₹83 crore budget, the second highest after PBKS, secure.
If they continue with the same processes, Arshdeep has to be on their radar. It would be a unique thing to see two left-arm quicks operating with the new ball but the Punjabi's skills are quite different from Dayal's. Given the kind of success left-arm quicks tend to get at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, it would be worth trying.
More importantly, RCB have always longed for a bowling-attack leader, someone consistent in taking wickets and always showing responsibility. They tried it with Mohammed Siraj and a few experienced overseas pacers but it didn't work.
Arshdeep was that for PBKS even in his first two seasons in 2019 and 2020. He maintained that by bowling the most difficult overs in a team that also had Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel and vice-captain Sam Curran.
RCB have enough budget to get him in the auction. Not many pacers do well at the Chinnaswamy but Arshdeep is probably the best Indian pacer in the auction, thanks to his wide range of skillsets and sharp mind.
#2 Kolkata Knight Riders
Despite Mitchell Starc winning back-to-back Player of the Match awards in the first qualifier and the final last term, it seemed obvious that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won't retain him ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Perhaps, even the team knew that consistency was still an issue in the long term.
KKR's title run was brilliant, but it was still freakish. Sunil Narine scored more runs than most international batters, Rinku Singh was hardly needed and Andre Russell and an uncapped Harshit Rana were joint third-highest wicket-takers with the ball.
It was a good team peaking together at the right time. With Gautam Gambhir gone and a rebuild to start under new mentor Dwayne Bravo, the team need consistent performers instead of maverick match-winners. Arshdeep, having picked up 17 or more wickets in three of the last four IPL seasons, gives them just that.
He'd be the ideal replacement for Starc, taking the new ball alongside a spinner or a young pacer (Vaibhav Arora again or someone similar) while handling two overs in the death overs with Harshit and Russell on either side. Being a World Cup winner, he'll garner good respect from this group and he'd love working with Bravo.
Eden Gardens, with its increasingly pacer-friendly tracks, would suit Arshdeep even better than Starc. With him in the team at around ₹15-17 crore, KKR would be left with an almost complete bowling attack and over ₹30 crore to fill the rest.
#3 Mumbai Indians
Like most other teams, Mumbai Indians (MI) only have the budget to sign one more marquee player (₹45 crore). They have one of the best Indian cores in the league with four first-11 batters and the best bowler in the world in Bumrah.
They can also use those ₹45 crore to fill the remaining gaps and try to get value signings. But setting aside about ₹15 crore for Arshdeep won't be a bad deal either. It would be as good a combination of Bumrah and Jofra Archer, that MI fans dearly envisaged, only for it to not last even a few games due to the latter's injury.
~₹30 crore can still be enough for a couple of good spinners, an opener and some value overseas signings. It's much better than looking for an overseas match-winner when one of India's best bowlers is available in a rare opportunity.
Bumrah and Arshdeep together won India the 2024 T20 World Cup by changing around the second half of South Africa's innings in the final. They are extremely versatile, with the ability to take wickets in swinging and spinning conditions, and are relatively good at avoiding season-changing injuries.
Now, here comes the deal-sealer: Arshdeep has 12 wickets in eight matches at the Wankhede, with a bowling average of 16.83 -- his best at any ground he has played IPL in. The left-arm quick loves the conditions. He and Bumrah there would be a cheat code, good enough to bring back the franchise's glory days.
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