IPL Auction 2019: 3 teams who could buy Joe Root

Joe Root, the current English Test captain is probably the best player to have never played in the IPL. Joe Root flexible batsmen who can anchor an innings and score quick runs at the same time. He also is a decent part-time off-break bowler and can be handy on Indian pitches.

A part of the Fab Four, Joe Root has scored 6400+ test match runs at an average of 51 and has over 4900 ODI runs at an average of 52 at a respectable strike rate of 87. Everyone knows about Root's batting prowess in the test and ODI format, but his abilities as a T20 player are highly underestimated.

In 28 T20I appearances for England, he has scored 787 runs at an average and strike rate of 36 and 129 respectively. His T20 performances have considerably improved in the last few years. In the T20 format in last 4 years, Joe Root has scored runs at a sublime average of 43 and at a strike rate of 137.

While Joe Root went unsold in the 2018 IPL auction, he is likely to attract some bids this time around. Teams looking for a solid middle-order batsman, an overseas pro, and an experienced campaigner could target Root at the auction.

On that note, let's take a look at three teams who could target Joe Root at the upcoming auction.

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#1 Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab are one of the three franchises alongside RCB and Delhi Daredevils who have never won the IPL title. With a new captain at the helm and a strong batting line-up, KXIP were expected to do well in the previous edition of the IPL. Despite this KXIP finished at a disappointing 7th position on the points table.

The disappointing results forced KXIP to release some of their underperforming players like Aaron Finch, Mohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh alongside 8 other players. KXIP also traded Marcus Stoinis for Mandeep Singh to RCB. As a result, they have the largest available salary cap (36.20 Cr) among all the teams.

KXIP have retained only four overseas players and would look for a solid middle-order batsman at the auction. In such circumstances, Joe Root might just be the perfect buy for KXIP.

At KXIP, Root would have to do his usual role of anchoring the innings while other batsmen would play freely around him.

#2 Delhi Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils are the most underperforming team in the history of IPL.

Another team who has never tasted IPL glory, Delhi Daredevils had a great side on paper last season. With the likes Roy, Munro, Maxwell, Morris, Boult, and Rabada in the squad, Delhi had the best set of overseas players last season. But, like always their big guns didn't fire and Rishabh Pant and Boult were the only two shining stars in the dark sky for DD as they finished at the bottom of the points table.

To change their fortunes in the upcoming season Delhi released some big names like Maxwell, Roy, Gambhir along with 8 other players. They also traded Nadeem, Vijay Shankar and Abhishek Sharma for Shikhar Dhawan with SRH.

After releasing Maxwell from the squad, Delhi would look a solid overseas middle-order batsman who can hold the innings together. Moreover, Root's experience would do a ton of good for Delhi who are basically a very young and inexperienced side.

#3 Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders didn't have the best of starts as an IPL franchise. They had failed to reach the playoffs in the first three seasons. Something needed to change and in came Gautam Gambhir as the new captain of KKR and completely turned its fortunes. Under Gambhir's leadership, KKR reached the playoffs 5 times out of 7. In IPL 2018 Dinesh Karthik continued the same legacy as KKR pushed well above their weights to finish 3rd.

Earlier this month KKR released 8 players from their squad. KKR retained their core group of players, a total of 13 players. KKR's management would have a lot of work to do as they would have to buy 6-7 good players in an available salary cap of 15.2 Cr. Moreover, KKR only has 3 overseas players in the squad and would like to buy at least a couple more.

At the auction, KKR would surely look for an overseas batsman who can play as a floater in the team. Joe Root would provide KKR what they need and his part-time off-spin and ample of experience would just be surplus to KKR's requirements.