IPL 2014: Best 11 players available in auctions

Bowlers

8. Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson

The speedster who is the talk of the town after he scalped 37 wickets in the recently concluded Ashes was surprisingly pipped by Lasith Malinga when it came to retention of players for Mumbai Indians. They still have that “right to match” card but they will certainly have to match a huge fee for this one as the bidding war is likely to be intense and long drawn.

Johnson was looked upon as a player with considerable talent who had under-performed prior to the latest edition of the Ashes but his resurgence began in India under George Bailey’s captaincy when it seemed that he was letting go. Johnson was given the license to strive for pace and pace only as he began cramming it up.

The rewards came soon enough and he has joined Dale Steyn in the conversation for the best fast bowler title. The IPL will be yet another stage for him to showcase his abilities. Moreover, as a no.8 he can do some effective fly-swotting with the willow.

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The Indian pacer might have fallen out-of-favour recently but his ability in the shorter format of the game is under-rated. He swings the ball both ways and can run-through his four over without giving away anything. A player of infinite potential, he is worthy of interest simply in the fact that he has a spell on one of the most devastating players of IPL cricket: Chris Gayle.

The swing bowler has dismissed Gayle numerous times in recent memory and does the same with all opening batsmen who are vulnerable to late swing. He is an ideal selection in this bowling squad for his ability to swing as opposed to the pace of Johnson and Md. Shami.

10. Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami

Shami was Indian cricket’s find in 2013. He made the ball talk in the series against the West Indies dismissing most of his scalps by uprooting their stumps. He relies heavily on his ability to be deceptive with his pace as he constantly clocks 140 kph and also derives whatever little is on offer from the surface.

He hits the seam with consistency and attacks the stumps which makes him a hard bowler to get away. He has a competent yorker which means that he will be more than serviceable in the last few over to the captain. Shami was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchisee but will be up for grabs in the auction.

11. Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra

The experienced Indian leg-spinner has been a star performer when it comes to the Indian Premier League. He is a wicket taking bowler who can put the stop on a team in the middle overs. He has a well disguised googly that keeps the batsman guessing and his records speak for itself.

He has taken 95 wickets in 75 career matches at an astonishing economy of below 7.00! He began his career with Delhi Daredevils and has multiple hat-tricks to his name. He was fantastic for the Hyderabad Sunrisers last years taking 21 scalps and it remains a mystery as to why they didn’t retain him.

He has taken a minimum of 11 scalps in every edition of the IPL. He is chosen in this list ahead of the likes of Pragyan Ojha and is perhaps the best T20 operator after Sunil Narine.

Other Options: Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Mohit Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Varun Aron and Ashok Dinda.