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Clean Up seems to be the mantra for most of the franchises in the Indian Premier League this time.
The Delhi Daredevils’ decision not to retain any of its players is a clear indication that the auctions in February are going to be a close affair. Everyone would prefer to start with a clean slate – a concept lost on the Chennai, Mumbai and Rajasthan units for obvious reasons – and the current season’s selection process presents a golden opportunity.
Retention, however, is a double-edged sword. In a move that has long baffled me, consistent performers seem to miss the bus when it comes to a new season, and the franchises start looking for fresh faces. Making such decisions is a tricky business, yes, but surprising too. Million-dollar man Glenn Maxwell is one such omission, despite having played a few good innings for Mumbai. Ryan McLaren and Morne Morkel are other surprise exclusions, as is veteran left-hander Mike Hussey.
Here is a list of five players who ought to have been retained by their current franchises:
Albie Morkel
It is widely known that MS Dhoni prefers to have seam-bowling all-rounders in his side. So, picking Dwayne Bravo over the South African T20 star must have been tough for the Super Kings.
But, I’m not quite sure if they made the right choice. Albie has been a rock-solid performer for the yellow brigade in almost all the seasons. Not many would have managed to smash 28 runs in a single over, while chasing a stiff target; the left-handed Morkel did it nonchalantly. Despite the fact that the bowler at the receiving end was Virat Kohli, who is not known for his bowling exploits, scoring that many runs was no mean feat.
I suppose consistency, as understood by the CSK management, is not a condition for automatic retention. Nevertheless, I hope they realize their monumental error soon, for if they lose the Pretoria native to anyone else, they would be in for a lot of misery.
Azhar Mahmood
Azhar Mahmood – Not retained for experience or age?
I’m a firm believer in the statement that all-rounders are vital to every format of the game. With the IPL going in for a fresh look and starting over from scratch, the new rules in place have made life difficult for the existing franchises. As a result, they have been forced to make some really unpopular decisions.
This is quite true in the case of former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood. Once touted as a future skipper, things turned out in a way he would never have expected. Now a qualified British citizen, the 39-year old still packs a punch with both bat and ball.
Yet, Kings XI Punjab chose to go ahead with young turks David Miller and Manan Vohra.
I’m all for youthful exuberance and enthusiasm, but like Test & ODI cricket, Twenty20 also needs players with a wealth of experience. Azhar’s utility is never under question, but his franchise’s choices are somewhat flawed. With Adam Gilchrist hanging up his boots and David Hussey also missing out on retention, it would have been a logical choice to keep the Pakistan veteran in the side.
However, logic seems to be one category that franchises freely neglect prior to the auctions, only to regret their choices later on. I hope Mahmood is re-signed to Punjab; most of the owners are gambling too much with the Joker’s card, and he is just too skilled to be left unsold.
David Warner – Will the Daredevils’ wish come true?
The Australian opener has been a fairly consistent performer for the Daredevils. Even though he is on their wish-list, the pocket-sized dynamo should have been an automatic choice for retention. With Virender Sehwag struggling to find some form, and a side that desperately needs a revival in fortunes, one would have expected the franchise to get Warner on board, before the others swarmed in.
It didn’t happen.
In cricket’s shortest format, you need a lot of firepower in both batting and bowling. Warner, by cricketing nature, is highly aggressive and can change the course of a match single-handed. An outstanding fielder in the deep as well, Warner is a useful part-time leg-break bowler too, though he rarely bowls at the international level.
I might have agreed with Delhi’s decision to go for a clean slate. But, by over-looking the Australian dasher, they may have just shot themselves in the foot, because the bidding for this guy will be fierce, even if the Daredevils exercise their three RTM cards.
Zaheer Khan – Blue for Red?
I thought long and hard about including the veteran left-arm pacer in this list. He hasn’t spent much time in the shorter formats recently, since his fitness woes have kept him out of the game for quite a considerable period. However, his experience is of much value to any side, and the red-and-gold franchise might just have erred by not retaining his services for this season.
Zaheer Khan has been the bane of southpaws for a long time now. Wily and cunning, he still has the knack of landing those early blows which peg back the rival camp by a fair amount. His fielding has improved substantially, and he can also conjure a few big hits if needed.
Why, then, must he be left out of reckoning for retention? Just because he’s getting on in years or isn’t in the same mould as a Kohli or a de Villiers with the bat? Give me a break!
Still, if they play their Right-To-Match cards correctly, the Royal Challengers might see the ‘Zak Attack’ back soon. Otherwise, the poachers are ready to move in for the kill!
Dwayne Smith
Dwayne Smith – Where does he go?
The Caribbean power-hitter was one of the many surprise exclusions from the Mumbai Indians’ roster after scintillating performances in both the previous season as well as in the Champions League. For many ardent fans, he was the answer to Mumbai’s long-standing opening woes. One still remembers how he steered the RIL-owned side to an improbable win over the Chennai Super Kings in the last over.
With four half-centuries in the 2013 edition, the tall West Indian not only provided fireworks at the top of the order, but also proved his mettle in the field with some acrobatic moves.
Now the all-rounder finds himself back in the player pool, waiting for the chance to display his wares once again in the IPL circus. On Indian pitches, Dwayne has already proved that he is more than handy with both bat and ball. Yet, the franchise chose to retain teammate Kieron Pollard, despite the power hitter nursing a knee injury since October of last year. In the rush to retain the core members, MI overlooked the Barbados powerhouse without a second thought.
Delhi and Kolkata might just go all out in bidding for Dwayne – Mumbai may just have lost the plot here. I expect to see the burly fellow send the ball soaring into the stands at a greater frequency this time!
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are the author’s own. They do not reflect those of the website as a whole.
