IPL 2019 Auction: Five West Indians who can spark a bidding war

The West Indians have been undisputed champions of the T20 format. Their side has won two T20I World Cups, despite all the turmoil taking place within the ranks. Their prolific performers are ‘most wanted’ in T20 leagues all around the globe. The age of T20 freelancing truly began with the Caribbean superstars offering their services to various franchises.

The likes of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and others have achieved a legendary status in the world of T20 Cricket. The upcoming crop from the Caribbean is very promising as well. They have already made their impact in the Windies’ T20 League - Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and in the other T20 tournaments also.

Every side in the IPL desires a batsman who can go for big shots from ball one and connect crisply. In this year’s CPL, we witnessed quite a few stormy knocks. The franchises also love to see the raw pace that will trouble batsmen, and the West Indians are never short of it. These Caribbean stars have played in plenty of white-ball tournaments and will be the hot-picks in the upcoming IPL 2019 auction.

#5 Darren Bravo

When Darren Bravo first arrived on the scene, his resemblance with the batting legend Brian Lara excited everyone. His footwork, his flourishing strokes and even his walk evoked the memories of the great man and the burden of expectation kept pegging down the little Bravo. But Darren Bravo is back after surviving all the controversies and disputes.

The 29-year old from Trinidad had a second wind in the CPL 2018. Playing for Trinbago Knight Riders, he aggregated 394 in 14 matches with the average nearing 40. The magnum opus was his 94 not out from 36 balls which included a 32-run over where he smashed Kieron Pollard for five sixes. Darren struck 12 sixes in the last 20 balls he faced as TKR pulled off an impossible chase.

Unlike his half-brother Dwayne Bravo, Darren has played only one game in the IPL. With the devastating powers that he exhibited in the CPL, IPL 2019 could be the life-changing experience for the younger Bravo.

#4 Oshane Thomas

Oshane Thomas

West Indies and a fast bowler is a love story that mesmerizes every cricket lover. Watching a tear way fast bowler from the Caribbean is a throwback to the golden days of cricket. The newest sensation is the 21-year old Jamaican fast bowler Oshane Thomas.

Thomas impressed everyone by crossing the 150 kmph barrier in the CPL 2017. In the 2018 season, he was improved and deadly. His searing yorker that destroyed Shai Hope’s stumps is still doing rounds on the social media. Thomas troubled the likes of Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, David Warner and Martin Guptill in the CPL and made a formidable impression.

However, the clincher for Thomas in this year’s IPL auction will be the first-hand experience that the Indian batsmen received. In the recent tour of Windies, Thomas bowled with lethal pace and kept the Indian trio of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli on their toes. A bowler who can bowl in excess speed is a great asset for any T20 side in the world, Oshane Thomas will definitely be on every franchise’s list.

#3 Sherfane Rutherford

Sherfane Rutherford

The 20-year old Guyanese batsman has been another batting sensation from the West Indies. Sherfane Rutherford is still in his early days but has provided ample account of his blazing batting capabilities. His heroics were on display in the CPL 2018 and in the Global T20 League Canada.

Guyana Amazon Warriors needed to chase down 155 in 15.3 overs to secure a spot in the final. Rutherford smashed 45 runs from only 13 balls to achieve the target in just 14.1 overs. He struck six sixes in the 13 balls he faced. Earlier in the Global T20 Canada tournament. Rutherford played a miraculous inning of 134 from 66 balls as West Indies-B chased down 216 runs after being 11/3 at one stage.

The explosive knocks earned Rutherford a spot in the T10 League that was played in UAE. He batted belligerently for Bengal Tigers. The 20-year old will be hoping for an IPL contract where he can win the world by smashing bowling attacks out of the park.

#2 Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran executing a switch-hit

The 23-year old swashbuckler from Trinidad can testify the importance of playing in India in just before the IPL auction. In the third and final T20I match of Windies against India, Pooran struck a marvellous 53 from 25 balls. The left-hander was severe on the premier IPL bowlers and left an indelible mark.

Pooran next travelled to UAE and participated in the T10 League. He was a sensation there as he churned out unbelievable numbers. His knocks included 77 not out (25 balls, 10 sixes), 62 (24 balls, six sixes), 43 (18 balls, five sixes), 45 (18 balls, four sixes) and 43 (16 balls, three sixes). He single-handedly kept the Northern Warriors’ campaign alive.

On the back of such performances, Nicholas Pooran will be a superb prospect for the IPL teams. He is also a wicketkeeper which means he can chip in with his all-round abilities. The 23-year old has already earned a lot of experience by playing in various leagues around the globe, and the IPL can be his ultimate summit.

#1 Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer

Currently, the most discussed name from the Windies side is that of the 21-year old batsman from Guyana, Shimron Hetmyer. The fearless batsman first dazzled the world with his audacious batting in the Test cricket and then made his name through the CPL and the limited-overs cricket.

The under-19 World Cup winning Captain in 2016 emerged as the highest run-getter (among West Indians) in the CPL 2018. He became CPL’s youngest centurion as he blasted a 47-ball hundred against one of the better bowling attacks in the tournament, Jamaica Tallawahs. Hetmyer then struck a 30-ball 59 in the improbable chase of 155 runs in 15.3 overs against Trinbago Knight Riders to take his side into the final.

Hetmyer impressed the Indian audience with his aggressive brand of batting in the recent tour to India. His exhilarating knocks of 106(78) and 94(64) in the ODIs must have caught the attention of the IPL scouts. Shimron Hetmyer will without a doubt be the hottest sale in this year’s IPL auction.