IPL Auction 2019: Team-wise analysis of likely strategies and potential buys

Kings XI Punjab

Can KXIP make the most of their superior purse?

Retained: Ravichandran Ashwin [c], KL Rahul, Chris Gayle*, Andrew Tye*, Mayank Agarwal, Ankit Rajpoot, Mujeeb Ur Rahman*, Karun Nair, David Miller*

Traded In: Mandeep Singh (from RCB)

Released: Aaron Finch, Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Barinder Sran, Ben Dwarshuis, Manoj Tiwary, Akshdeep Nath, Pardeep Sahu, Mayank Dagar and Manzoor Dar

Traded Out: Marcus Stoinis (to RCB)

Available Auction Purse: INR 36.20 crore

Available Slots: 15 (Indian 11; Overseas 4)

Auction Strategy:

Another year, another revamp. Kings XI go into the auction having the least number of players in their squad, 10, and have INR 36.20 crore at their disposal, the highest among all franchises. The only difference this year in comparison to recent seasons is that there is a semblance of a core in the retained players and certainty regarding the leadership of the team. Ravichandran Ashwin's captaincy was impressive and probably good enough to earn him another season at the helm.

The batting seems more or less sorted, maybe with room for another marquee overseas batsman given Chris Gayle's dodgy fitness and David Miller's inconsistent form. What they do need desperately is a world-class all-rounder and fast bowlers of whom at least one possesses genuine speed. Of course, they also need backup spinners and Indian batsmen.

Potential Acquisitions: Sam Curran, Shimron Hetmyer, Brendon McCullum, Wriddhiman Saha, Axar Patel, Harsh Tyagi, Shivam Dubey, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Anureet Singh, Oshane Thomas, Hardus Viljoen, Anmolpreet Singh, Gurkeerat Singh, Hazratullah Zazai, Fabian Allen.

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