IPL 2019: One player from each team who can be used as a floater 

The IPL 2019 is set to begin on 23rd March 2019. The toughest T20 league in the world will see the eight teams battling it out for the prestigious title. Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will play the opening match of the tournament.

Every team is set and ready to make its presence felt. The auctions were held on December 18 to give the teams a chance to fix the problems in their squads. CSK had the least work to do, as they had retained 23 of their players.

Every team has got flexibility, and good bench strength. It would be no surprise if many of the talented players do not even get to play a match. Every team has some players, who would be expected to come out of their comfort zone, and perform when and where the team wants them to. Such floaters always play a key role in the IPL and the case will be no different this season as well.

Let us take a look at one such player from each team, who can play in this crucial floater position.

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#1 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

Over the years, we all have seen the multiple dimensions of 'Captain Cool'. MS Dhoni has shown the ability to control the pressure situations and build an innings. At the same time, he has established himself as a great aggressor and a finisher as well.

Therefore, it would be no surprise if CSK use him as a floater. Seeing the kind of depth that the CSK 's batting unit has, Mahi might find it difficult to promote himself up the order and might be seen in the role of a finisher. However, if the team loses early wickets, it would be pointless to send anyone other than Dhoni at No.4.

The main reason for this can be understood from the first ODI between India and Australia in Sydney. After India lost 3 wickets for a mere 4 runs, it was Dhoni, who absorbed the pressure and built a partnership with Rohit Sharma. Anyone else at that spot might have meant the loss of 4th wicket soon. Thus, Dhoni can be rotated as per the situation of the team.

#2 Vijay Shankar (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar has been a proven all-rounder in international cricket. The batting allrounder has often shown his capacity to play at various positions for the team. In the recent run with the Indian team, Shankar was made to bat as an opener (in T20Is), as well as down the order (in ODIs).

Therefore, he might be the best player to be played at various batting positions, as per the situation of the team. If the openers help SRH get off to a flying start, he might be sent up the order to play the role of an aggressor. He has shown that he can attack from the start, and therefore he is the best option in that situation.

However, if the team struggles to build a solid foundation, he can be saved for the last and can be brought in at his natural No.6 or 7 spots.

#3 Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Andre Russell

Andre Russell is probably the best T20 allrounder of the current generation. Apart from giving four economical precious overs, he can bat at any position you want him to and can hit big shots from the first ball in any ground in this world.

KKR is a team which does not have much depth in their batting unit. In such a team, a player like him can be a huge surplus. Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn can score over 60 runs in the powerplay if they play the whole of it. The duo has even slammed 105 in the 6 overs against RCB. In such situations, who would not love a batsman to come next and score 45 runs in 15-20 balls. And Russell is the perfect man to do the same.

Other than this, he can also be saved for the last and made to bat in the last 2-3 overs. Also, he has the ability to single-handedly pull a team out of pressure situation as he did against CSK in 2018 with his 36 balls 88, after KKR were struggling at 5/89.

#4 Chris Morris (Delhi Capitals)

Chris Morris

Chris Morris is probably the best of all the all-rounders that Delhi has. He can give four overs in any situation, as well as bat at any position. Over the recent years, Morris has been seen in a finisher as well as in an aggressor's role. He possesses a mammoth strike rate of 166.66 in IPL.

Morris has even been tried at No.3 spot by South Africa. Although he might not be seen batting that high in the top-order batting heavy DC, the 32-year-old can definitely be brought in at No.5 to play a cameo in the middle overs, to set the tone for rest of the batting unit.

He can also play the role of a finisher as well if required. This has been a well-tested formula for the same franchise, and this has often worked for them. If Morris manages to perform this season, this might play a defining role in ending DC's title drought this year.

#5 Mandeep Singh (Kings XI Punjab)

Mandeep Singh

Mandeep Singh was traded for Marcus Stoinis by RCB. He had an average outing in IPL 2018, however, he is set to begin a new journey with the team. And it should not come as a surprise if he is used as a floater.

The explosive combination of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle is set to fire in this season again. The duo was the most successful opening pair in 2018, and the way it attacked the bowlers, it is likely that KXIP put on a big total in first 6-7 overs. In such a case, Mayank Aggarwal can follow, and Mandeep, who has a strike rate of 135, can be used as a finisher.

However, he can also be used as a No.3 if the openers fail to provide the start. He has opened for RCB in IPL 2017, and he knows how to bat in the top-order. Thus his batting position can be kept flexible.

#6 Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)

Hardik Pandya

The good news for all the Mumbai Indians fans is that Hardik Pandya is now fit. The all-rounder is now back to practice and will play the IPL. Thus, the burden of expectations would be high on him.

His capability as a batsman is unquestionable. He has been seen batting at different positions even for the Indian team. He can be used as a finisher, a pinch hitter in the middle overs as well as an innings builder in some cases. Thus he is a big factor in MI's batting department.

Provided that MI openers get off to a flying start, he can be used as a finisher or an aggressor during the middle overs. If this does not happen, he can also build the innings. More importantly, his dynamic brand of cricket makes him a complete T20 specialist. If MI wants to put on a better show this season, his performance would play a key role.

#7 Ashton Turner (Rajasthan Royals)

India v Australia - ODI Series: Game 4

The biggest concern for RR is that Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, two of their key players won't be available in the second half of the season. Fortunately for them, they found their solution in the recently concluded ODI series between India and Australia.

Ashton Turner is the player who can be used as an opener in place of Jos Buttler, as well as a finisher, as he was in the 4th ODI against India, where he scored a 43-ball-84, a knock that single-handedly finished the match for Australia.

And for the surplus, he can also bowl a few overs if needed. At the batting-friendly pitch of Rajasthan, Turner could well be an X- factor. He can be used as a replacement for any of the batsman. If RR does not get a good start, he can be promoted up the order as well, to accelerate the run rate.

#8 Colin de Grandhomme (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Colin De Grandhomme

In the recently concluded T20 series between India and New Zealand, Colin de Grandhomme clearly showed that he can bat at any position and still make runs. Although he is not the most economical of the bowlers, his aggressive brand of cricket makes him a good batting all-rounder.

In that series, de Grandhomme scored 50 runs off 28 deliveries in the 2nd T20I, where he batted at No.6, more as a finisher. In the 3rd T20I, when Tim Seifert and Colin Munro got off to a flying start, he came at No.4, and still scored 30 runs in just 16 balls. This clearly shows the diversity of this player.

In the previous seasons, RCB has struggled to convert the foundation laid by the upper order into big scores. However, if he manages to get his rhythm going, this problem might be solved in this season and might prove vital in ending RCB's title drought.