IPL Auction 2020: One player each franchise must retain despite their poor performances

We're getting closer to the end of the trade window ahead of Indian Premier League 2020 and in a couple of weeks, the teams are expected to announce who they are going to retain and release ahead of the auction which is to be held on December 19 In Kolkata.

Over the years, the IPL Auction has witnessed some incredible sights like outrageous bids as well as unbelievable steals. It all comes down to how teams plan for the event and the players who they release are an important part of this.

They can't release any player on impulse or retain anyone based on sentiment or past form and need to properly analyse their strengths or weaknesses before making their choices. Many players who have been let go by team after one poor season have gone on to flourish elsewhere making some teams regret their decision.

On that note, let's take a look at one poor performer from last season who each team should retain.

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Chennai Super Kings- Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu endured a tough campaign. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com)

The last one year of Ambati Rayudu's cricketing career has been topsy-turvy, to say the least. From almost being assured of the No.4 spot in India's probable World Cup XI to being left out from the traveling squad to retiring from all forms of cricket to coming out of retirement, Rayudu has endured an absolutely chaotic year.

After a brilliant IPL 2018 season, albeit as an opener, Rayudu was seen as the solution to India's number 4 conundrum. However, his performances for the Men in Blue paled in comparison to his exploits for the Chennai Super Kings. This meant that he had to perform well in IPL 2019 to hold on to his place in the national team.

Unfortunately, Rayudu only managed to score 282 runs from 17 matches, averaging a sub-par 23.50 at a poor strike-rate of 93.06. He played both as an opener as well as the No.4 batsman but failed to impress in either role. Despite playing every single game of the season, Rayudu never got going when it mattered the most.

Age is not on Rayudu's side anymore and with him not being in contention for a place in the national side, the CSK management could choose to include him in the exodus of the aging players which is likely to take place this season. But when you consider the fact that Rayudu almost always finds his groove in the IPL, the CSK might want to hold on to him for one more year.

With two fifties in the recently-concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Hyderabadi batsman might well be on his comeback route. The CSK think tank might want to give Rayudu one last opportunity and back him despite last season's rare IPL failure.

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Delhi Capitals- Hanuma Vihari

2 opportunities weren't enough for Vihari to settle down.

One of India's biggest success stories over the past year, Hanuma Vihari has made it big on the international arena and has established himself as a key figure in India's Test squad. His success in the tour Down Under prompted the Capitals to go for him at the 2019 IPL Auction. But the all-rounder couldn't adapt quickly to the T20 format and featured in just 2 games making a mere 4 runs. Needless to say, this certified the fact that T20 cricket wasn't his cup of tea.

But why they need to retain him is because Delhi need stability in their middle order and Vihari can provide that to them on any given day. Delhi lost many close games last season due to horrendous middle order collapses and if settled in his role, Vihari can be a perfect solution to this issue. Despite his slow strike-rate, he has the ability to handle tough conditions and hold one end up during tough chases.

Kings XI Punjab- Andrew Tye

Andrew Tye had a bad season. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com)

Andrew Tye was the only bright spark in Kings XI Punjab's bowling attack in IPL 2018 as the T20 specialist ended up winning the Purple Cap with 24 wickets to his name.

But instead of continuing in the same vein, Tye had a torrid time in IPL 2019 as he was smashed to all parts of the ground by the batsmen who had learnt to see through his variations. He played 6 games picking up just 3 wickets leaking runs at an economy rate of 10.59.

All this might seem to be good reasons to release him but KXIP shouldn't do that. One bad season doesn't rob Tye of his status as a premier death bowler. Barring the IPL, Tye has flourished in the T20 format doing well in the Vitality T20 Blast with 15 wickets from 13 games at a good economy rate of 7.59. He was also a vital member of the Australian national T20 squad before getting sidelined by an injury.

All in all, Tye might return from the injury as the same player he was in IPL 2018 and his experience, his deception and T20 flair shouldn't be something that KXIP toss out the window.

Kolkata Knight Riders- Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh is a talent to look out for. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com)

After injuries ruled out the star Indian pacers Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi, it was up to 23-year-old Prasidh Krishna to deliver as the lone Indian pacer for the side. The pressure on him was apparently a bit too much and that was why he had a really poor season. Despite featuring in 11 games, Prasidh could pick up just 4 wickets and gave away runs at a bad economy rate of 9.34.

While this may highlight his inexperience and probably make a case for him being released, anyone who follows domestic cricket would point out that doing so will be a big blunder. The Karnataka pacer was simply brilliant in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy and was the highest wicket-taker for the champions with 17 wickets from 8 games at an economy of 3.94 and average of 13.41. He also impressed in his outings for India A and is being touted as a talent for the future.

With this being the case, Kolkata Knight Riders should look long-term and must also note that Prasidh had a brilliant debut season in the IPL when he came in as a replacement. Last season was a poor one for all of the KKR bowlers and it wouldn't be right to single out him. He is a tremendous talent and should be held on to.

Mumbai Indians- Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan had a rather tough time at the crease. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com)

The Mumbai Indians have always been known to favor a lot of young talents and it came as no surprise when they went all out to acquire him in the IPL 2018 auction. Ishan Kishan did play some good knocks despite being impulsive and finished the 2018 season with 275 runs. But as MI bought de Kock from RCB in the trade window ahead of IPL 2019, Kishan's spot was always in threat.

The threat was real as despite brilliant performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy preceding IPL 2019, Kishan wasn't in the playing XI for the first few matches as de Kock played well up top. It was only when MI faced trouble in the middle order that they turned to Kishan and this time around, he didn't have such a good time in the middle. He was able to score just 101 runs in 7 matches at a sub-par strike-rate of 101.

That being said, Kishan's performance in the IPL has declined by the years and he has seen a downward slope in his graph from IPL 2017 to IPL 2019. Despite his brilliant showings in domestic cricket, MI might think of the cash they can set free by releasing Kishan and let him go.

But they should not do so. Ishan Kishan often came after Suryakumar Yadav with just 9 or 10 overs left to bat and wasn't given enough time to settle down. He was forced to play the big shots too early in his innings and wasn't given as much freedom as in 2018.

MI must use their youngsters properly and some senior players should make the adjustment in order to accommodate them. Ishan Kishan has the potential to light up the league if he finds his feet and should be retained.

Rajasthan Royals- Dhawal Kulkarni

If used in the right position, Kulkarni can thrive. (Image Courtesy: Pro Kabaddi)

Seeing Dhawal Kulkarni's name ahead of Ben Stokes might surprise a few but it's evident that Rajasthan Royals wouldn't let go of Stokes, after his exploits in the World Cup. Dhawal Kulkarni, meanwhile had a very bad season as he picked up just 6 wickets from 11 games leaking runs at an economy rate of 9.57.

Kulkarni ,who thrives as an opening bowler was used outside the power play and sometimes, even in the death. With no swing after the first 4 or 5 overs, Kulkarni's biggest strength was thrown out of the equation and since he's not the quickest of bowlers, he had nothing to trouble the batsman with.

Despite his poor IPL season, he was good in the Vijay Hazare Trophy playing for Mumbai picking up 15 wickets from 8 matches averaging a solid 19.46.

His presence will also provide an experienced figure for youngsters like Oshane Thomas to learn from and is necessary. RR have been a side known to make few errors with their choices of players and while Unadkat must certainly leave, Kulkarni should be retained.

Royal Challengers Bangalore- Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube has made it big after a sour IPL 2019 season. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com)

Royal Challengers Bangalore aren't the shrewdest side when it comes to the auctions and last season, they didn't address their most pressing issue, pace bowling. Rather, they shelled out ₹5 Crore to acquire Shivam Dube, the Mumbai all-rounder who created a huge sensation by smashing 5 sixes in an over in a Ranji Trophy match against Baroda.

But he failed to make much of an impact in the IPL, scoring just 40 runs from 4 matches with no wickets to his name as well. In such a situation, RCB would naturally want to release the players who they terribly overspent on to release cash to get some good bowlers for the side.

But Shivam Dube has managed to put in a brilliant shift after the IPL and even got selected for the national side making his debut against Bangladesh. He was absolutely brilliant in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and smashed a 58-ball 117 against Karnataka and scored his runs at an average of 88.50 and at an unbelievable strike-rate of 146.28.

It seems like RCB buying him for a huge price has paid off a bit later than they expected and they should retain this explosive all-rounder who will be a seasoned player before next season.

Sunrisers Hyderabad- Siddharth Kaul

SRH need to hold on to Kaul. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com)

After a brilliant IPL 2018 and a string of opportunities with the national side, everyone was expecting Siddharth Kaul to replicate the same in IPL 2019. The Punjab pacer made a name for himself with the usage of the 'knuckle-ball' and brilliant death bowling as he picked up 21 wickets in IPL 2018.

But he had a poor outing in IPL 2019 playing in 7 games picking up just 6 wickets at a poor economy of 8.96. Soon enough, he was dropped for Khaleel Ahmed. With Khaleel Ahmed now making further inroads into the Indian team and Bhuvneshwar Kumar expected to remain fit, Sun Risers Hyderabad might look to offload Kaul ahead of the auction.

But this might end up working against the Sunrisers. He was terrific with the ball in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy picking up 16 wickets in 8 matches at an economy of 4.55. His track record in both domestic T20s and in the IPL has been brilliant and this is in a way, just a minor slump. Releasing him now and watching as another team reap their rewards wouldn't be what SRH would want and they should back Kaul for the upcoming season.