IPL 2014 Auctions: Five players who should have been retained

Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan – Blue for Red?

I thought long and hard about including the veteran left-arm pacer in this list. He hasn’t spent much time in the shorter formats recently, since his fitness woes have kept him out of the game for quite a considerable period. However, his experience is of much value to any side, and the red-and-gold franchise might just have erred by not retaining his services for this season.

Zaheer Khan has been the bane of southpaws for a long time now. Wily and cunning, he still has the knack of landing those early blows which peg back the rival camp by a fair amount. His fielding has improved substantially, and he can also conjure a few big hits if needed.

Why, then, must he be left out of reckoning for retention? Just because he’s getting on in years or isn’t in the same mould as a Kohli or a de Villiers with the bat? Give me a break!

Still, if they play their Right-To-Match cards correctly, the Royal Challengers might see the ‘Zak Attack’ back soon. Otherwise, the poachers are ready to move in for the kill!