5 mid-season transfers that could've changed the dynamics of IPL 2018

This year, a mid-season transfer policy was put in place in the IPL, but it had a restriction which meant that no players or franchises could benefit from it. The policy allowed only the exchange of uncapped Indian players to take place.

If such a harsh condition had not been there, then the second half of the IPL would have been more interesting. The IPL can take a cue from the football leagues around the world and make this transfer policy lenient.

Many teams suffered from a particular shortcoming throughout the season. For example, SRH never knew who their openers were, CSK kept on changing its fast bowlers. The transfer policy could have made the balance of the sides better and in turn, made them more formidable.

Here are 5 mid-season transfers that could have changed the dynamics of the tournament altogether:

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#1 David Willey for Mohammad Shami - Delhi Daredevils

They had dropped Mohammad Shami after just a couple of failures, making sure that they didn’t trust him and it showed as he never played for them again.

Their team balance suffered after the injury to Chris Morris. Though they had Daniel Christian in their ranks, he was never good enough. Willey has a reputation of striking the ball well and can even bowl the tough overs in T20 cricket. He can get the ball to swing and pick up wickets. He could have been handy for them.

For Chennai Super Kings

They had arguably the weakest pace bowling line up. Their overseas bowling stocks were depleted too with not a single player who regularly represented his nation. Dhoni had to trust Dwayne Bravo for bowling at the death, but he had also not played many matches before the IPL. The fact that they recognized this weakness was evident when David Willey replaced Kedhar Jadhav.

This move wasn’t successful because Willey is a swing bowler who can take wickets up front while they wanted a bowler who could stop the flow of runs at the end of the innings. Deepak Chahar was doing the job of taking wickets for them in the first 6 overs.

Dwayne Bravo and the other death over bowlers proved ineffective at the end. Shami could’ve been handy for them as he not only has experience but can also execute the yorkers well.

#2 Colin Munro for Basil Thampi

Basil Thampi

For Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad had many quality pacers as backups; therefore, chances of Basil getting regular chances were low. With Khaleel and Natarajan already there, they could have afforded to let go of Thampi.

However, they struggled with their opening combination throughout the tournament trying more than 5 pairs. With Alex Hales and Shikhar Dhawan, it looked like they had finally found the right opening combination but as the season progressed Hales' inability to play spinners got exposed. Colin Munro is a talented player who has even got a T20 International century in India. He could have filled that void for them.

For Delhi Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils just gave Munro a couple of chances and dropped him. Then, when he got another opportunity, he couldn't convert the starts in just a couple of innings and was benched again. A player like Munro deserved to get more opportunities, but the management didn't back him.

Though their overseas fast bowling stocks were excellent, they lacked quality Indian bowling. Making Shami sit out didn't help them either. Basil Thampi can execute the yorkers well and has even been on the fringes of the Indian T20 international Team. His quality would've certainly helped the Delhi Daredevils.

#3 Mohammad Nabi for Henrich Klaasen

Henrich Klaasen

For Rajasthan Royals

When they had lost Steve Smith, a replacement in the form of a top order batsman seemed ideal, but they chose Klaasen instead. With Samson and Buttler regulars, Klaasen had to play as a specialist batsman. He also got limited opportunities because he didn't have experience of playing in sub-continental conditions.

A player like Mohammad Nabi would've been ideal for them. He can tonk the ball in the end overs and is a frugal bowler. Royals struggled with their finishers especially when Jos Buttler had started to open; Nabi could've filled that hole for them. Also, their spinners were very inexperienced, a senior player like Nabi would've been of utmost importance.

For Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad had quality spinners with Rashid and Shakib Al Hasan, and it never looked like they would have to play Nabi ahead of either of them. Therefore it was not a surprise that Nabi got just a single game to play.

In the wicketkeeping department, they had invested a lot in Wriddhiman Saha, but his performances were below average. Goswami got picked when Saha suffered an injury, but he didn't look convincing either. Klaasen could've been an answer to their problems of wicketkeeping as well as that of finishing the innings with the bat.

#4 Brendon McCullum for Shahbaz Nadeem

Brendon McCullum

For Delhi Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils has always picked Shahbaz Nadeem in the auction since IPL’s first season but never given him enough opportunities. This season too was a similar one for this experienced campaigner. He played just 6 matches for them, which were also in 3 stints.

They didn't trust Colin Munro as an opener, and Jason Roy had fitness issues. In such a situation, an explosive opener in the form of Brendon McCullum could've been the perfect answer to their problems.

For Royal Challengers Banglore

Royal Challengers Banglore has always had firepower in their top order and this year was no different. After trying McCullum for a few matches, they picked Colin de Grandhomme as they needed a strong finisher and a 6th bowling option. With McCullum not keeping, Quinton played ahead of him, and he hardly got any more opportunities.

After the auction, RCB seemed to have had their spin bowling options covered with Sundar and Chahal, but Sundar’s form dipped sharply. Sundar got dropped as he started giving away a truckload of runs.

For most of the tournament, RCB faced the problem of the second spinner as playing two leg spinners (by including M Ashwin) was risky. Shahbaz is a spinner who has experience and doesn’t give away runs. He could’ve fit perfectly into that role.

#5 Navdeep Saini for Akshdeep Nath

Navdeep Saini

For Kings XI Punjab

Though they had many issues with their middle order, still they were reluctant to give Akshdeep Nath opportunities. He just got a single game.

With their pace bowlers also struggling to pick up wickets (except for Andrew Tye) they needed a bowler who could bowl quick and get them the early breakthroughs. Navdeep Saini had a fabulous domestic season. If he had got opportunities, he could have repeated his heroics for them as well.

For Royal Challengers Banglore

It never seemed like Navdeep would get an opportunity for them. Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee had been doing a great job of picking wickets up front.

Their decision to retain Sarfaraz bemused everybody. They trusted him to play the finisher's role, but it backfired. Also, they played Parthiv Patel ahead of Vohra because they needed a wicketkeeper.

Akshdeep Nath could've done both the jobs for them convincingly as he was in great form. He had scored at an average of close to 50 and a strike rate of over 140 in the 2018 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.