IPL 2018: 5 categories of players that can rule the auction 

#5 Death over specialists

The go-to man for MI during the death overs

In the T20 format, last five overs - the death overs, are very crucial. Batsmen try and clear the boundary every single ball during this period. It requires tremendous death bowling skills to stop the flow of runs.

These days, bowlers have separate training sessions on death bowling. A team with good death bowlers is highly likely to win more matches as large chunks of runs are scored during the last few overs.

With franchisees realizing the importance of death bowling, following death over specialists could be in great demand (if they are not retained beforehand) -

Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians) - The go-to man for MI during the death overs, Bumrah is splendid with his leg crushing yorkers and off-cutters. He is arguably the best death over bowler in the modern game.

Jasprit Bumrah's IPL stats

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - The Purple Cap holder in IPL 2017, Kumar is extremely difficult to get away. He bowls to the field, has a perfect yorker and a deceiving back-of-the-hand slower ball.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's IPL stats

Mitchell Starc (Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2016) - One of the best fast bowlers in the world, Starc can consistently clock the speeds of over 150 Kmph. During the death overs, Starc bowls lightening fast yorkers which are unplayable. He did not participate in IPL 2017.

Mitchell Starc's IPl stats

Jaydev Unadkat (Rising Pune Supergiants) - The second highest wicket-taker in the IPL 2017, Unadkat has improved his death bowling skills many folds. His go-to delivery during the death overs is the slower ball. Unadkat bowls different types of slower balls.

Jaydev Unadkat's IPL stats

Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) - The Mumbai Indians poster boy, Malinga has been the best bowler in IPL over the years. Yorkers are his strength, especially those slower yorkers that dip in at the last moment.

Lasith Malinga's IPL stats