IPL 2018 Auction: What team combinations to expect

The IPL auction for 2018 is just around the corner and we can't wait to see which player ends up with which team. This year's auction promises to be a busy affair as all the players (except for the players retained by the teams) are going to go under the hammer.

Teams have already retained certain players in the retention that took place earlier this month. Teams also have the option of using the RTM (Right to Match) cards to get back players who were part of their squad last season.

While the teams are doing their calculations about the money left with them for the auction and looking to form a strong squad for the challenging season ahead, we will try to look at what combinations teams might end up with.

Mumbai Indians

Players retained - Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah

Right to match cards available : 2

Mumbai Indians have been one of the most successful franchises in the IPL. And the reason for this success is the consistency that they have maintained in the team selection. They enter the auction with a clear strategy of picking particular players and they go all the way to get those players. And more often than not this strategy has paid off.

They have made the right choices in player retention. Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are hot properties in world cricket right now and by retaining these players MI has formed a strong base for their squad. They still have two RTM cards with them and in all probability they are going to use them.

It is most likely that they will use one RTM card for Krunal Pandya. The elder Pandya had a stellar season and his all round ability can be vital for any T20 side. The other RTM card might be used for Pollard, Mclaghgen or Jos Butler. Mumbai also has the option to go for someone like Nitish Rana who was exceptional last season. But keeping in mind Mumbai Indians’ love for Kieron Pollard, they will use the RTM card to get him on board.

Prediction for RTM cards: Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Players retained - Virat Kohli, Ab de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan

Right to match cards available : 2

RCB has always been admired by its fans for its flamboyant and bold approach. They have usually gone with the strategy of beefing up their batting with some of the biggest hitters in world cricket; this was reflected in the player retention process too.

While not many expected them to retain Sarfaraz over Gayle, KL Rahul and Chahal, that might actually be a smart move considering the fact that they will go to the auction with a bigger purse. They might use their RTM cards to get back KL Rahul and Chahal in their squad. Both of these players have done exceedingly well for the franchise and have been in good form off late.

RCB fans might be surprised not to see Chris Gayle's name in the list but the fact that he hasn't been in the best of form in the last two seasons and infact was dropped from the playing eleven couple of times last season, it is highly improbable that RCB will go for him this time. Players like Kedar Jadhav and Samuel Badree have an outside chance but it might be difficult to beat Rahul and Chahal.

Prediction for RTM cards - KL Rahul, Chahal

Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR will want to form a strong squad for the challenging season

Players retained - Sunil Narine, Andre Russell

Right to match cards available : 3

KKR has been one of the smartest teams in terms of buying players at the auction. They have always made bargain buys and have utilised their money better than the other teams.

They do their homework coming into the auction and put their money on utility players. Their retention choices were a little surprising as they picked Andre Russell ahead of Manish Pandey and Kuldeep Yadav, both of whom have been regulars in the national side. But in the process they have given themselves more choices to pick from.

It is almost certain that they will use two of their RTM cards for Manish Pandey and Kuldeep Yadav. The third RTM card has a lot of contenders. A very straightforward choice is their current captain and one of the most successful players in IPL history, Gautam Gambhir. If they don't retain him, they might lose some of their fan following because Gambhir is highly rated by fans across the country, and loyalty still remains a major factor when it comes to cricket in India.

Another thing that goes in Gambhir's favour is his leadership skills. He has been highly successful as a captain since he joined the franchise. The other option that they have is Robin Uthappa who has been highly successful playing at the top order over the years, but his recent form has been a little patchy owing to which it is unlikely that they will go for him.

Prediction for RTM cards - Manish Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav, Gautam Gambhir.

Chennai Super Kings

CSK to will want to pick up from where they left off, two years ago

Players retained - MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja

Right to match cards available : 2

The talking point of IPL 2018 is Dhoni playing for CSK. CSK has been one of the most celebrated teams in IPL.

And the reason for this has been its star studded team. CSK has been blessed to field some of the best T20 players in the world. But this time, it's not going to be easy for them. They already had a limited number of players to choose from, and the players they have retained might be well past their prime.

Raina hasn't been part of the national side for a long time and his form in the domestic tournaments has not been so impressive. While Jadeja does provide the all-round option, his ability to perform in high pressure situations has come under the scanner of late.

Dhoni is still the same, though, and his astute leadership is an asset to any side, but the dip in his hitting abilities in the death overs means that they will have to look for a specialist for the job. Another matter of concern for them is the purse that they go to auction with, which has reduced due to the retention of three players.

They do have two RTM cards though, and they have some really good options, Dwyane Bravo, Brendon McCullum, Faf du Plessis and Dwayne Smith. They all played for CSK in 2015 which means CSK is well within its rationale to retain these players. But then the question is, are they really that effective now?

So it will be interesting to see how CSK goes about their retention business.

Prediction for the RTM cards - Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis

Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH will want Warner and Bhuvi to continue their purple patch in IPL

Players retained - David Warner, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Right to match cards available : 3

SRH were excellent in the auction last year investing money in unknown players like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi.

Like KKR, they come into the auction with a certain strategy. They have retained two of their most consistent and effective players - Warner and Bhuvi. Apart from these two players they still have three RTM cards with them, one of which is a no brainer, Rashid Khan.

The young Afghan has travelled places after his IPL exploits in his debut season. He has been highly consistent for his national side and he is earning a name for himself playing for Adelaide Strikers in the ongoing Big Bash League. However, the choice for the other two RTM cards isn't that simple.

They would have used their overseas players quota by then (Warner and Rashid), so they will have to take a pick from the Indian players. They have the choice of retaining high profile Indian players like Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh, both of whom haven't been extraordinary for the franchise.

They can go for the younger lot of players as well: Siddharth Kaul, Mohammad Siraj, Deepak Hooda and Vijay Shankar. All these players have been with the national squad of late, and if the franchise wants to form a squad keeping the future in mind, retaining one these players might not be a bad idea.

Prediction for RTM cards - Rashid Khan, Shikhar Dhawan, Siraj/Kaul

Delhi Daredevils

Can the younger players repay the faith put in them by DD?

Players retained - Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Chris Morris

Right to match cards available : 2

Delhi Daredevils took a bold step by retaining the likes of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. They also retained highly successful Chris Morris, who is coming out of an injury. They surprised a lot of people by retaining three players, as it was thought that they will go for a complete overhaul since they haven't had a successful season last year.

But they have shown faith in the young squad they had last season. They showed glimpses of brilliance last season, without putting up any substantial performances and they would be eager to rectify that this year. They might go for some experience in the middle order that collapsed at crucial junctures last season. They still have two RTM cards with them, which they can use to retain players from last season's squad.

They are spoiled for choice, though. They can use one of the RTM cards for an overseas player, they have plenty of options for that one spot: Quinton de Kock, Pat Cummins, Kasigo Rabada and Carlos Braithwaite.

Quinton de Kock has been highly successful for them, and it is going to be extremely difficult for them to let him go. Since Rabada's stakes have risen in the last year or so, he might provide a stiff competition to his fellow South African.

The other RTM card has to be used on an Indian player, and Sanju Samson and Karun Nair are the front runners for this spot, though Samson might be preferred as Karun had a lean season last year.

Prediction for RTM cards - Quinton de Kock, Sanju Samson

Rajasthan Royals

Can RR get back their mojo after two years away?

Players retained - Steven Smith

Right to match cards available : 3

The team that will form a squad right from scratch in true regards will be the Royals. They have retained Steven Smith, who is a proven match winner in any format, playing for any side in the world.

Their options for the usage of RTM cards are Ajinkya Rahane, Ankit Sharma, Rajat Bhatia, James Faulkner and Dhawal Kulkarni, and perhaps the only player that has any chance of being retained is Ajinkya Rahane.

Though Rahane has been going through a lean phase in international cricket, his numbers in IPL are pretty impressive, and he provides solidity at the top of the order, which is vital in T20 cricket. James Faulkner has an outside chance of being retained, but his drop in form in the last year or so might go against him.

Rajasthan Royals have always believed in grooming young cricketers rather than buying well established ones, so you might see a lot of surprises coming from the Royals camp.

Prediction for the RTM cards - Ajinkya Rahane

Kings XI Punjab

Will we able to see a turnaround by the Kings this season?

Players retained - Axar Patel

Right to match cards available : 3

The Kings have finished in the bottom half of the table in most of the seasons and they have a chance to change it this time. As almost every player is in the auction process, the Kings can form a strong squad which can help them put up a better performance this season.

They have only retained Axar Patel which surprised a few as they had the option of retaining Glenn Maxwell as well. But Kings Fans can still see Maxwell playing for the franchise if the think tank uses one of the RTM cards to buy him back.

The Kings retained only one player which means they still have three RTM cards for the auction process. It will be interesting to see whether they will use their RTM cards or go for a complete overhaul this season.

They might want to retain a certain Sandeep Sharma though. The Punjab seamer has been the only bright spot in the otherwise disappointing last couple of seasons, and his type of swing bowling is well suited for pitches of Mohali and Dharamsala, which are the home grounds of Kings XI Punjab.

They might retain Hashim Amla, Manan Vohra or Murali Vijay depending on the team combination and player availability.

Prediction for RTM cards - Glenn Maxwell, Sandeep Sharma.