IPL Auction 2020: One position each team should look to target

With the IPL Auctions less than 3 weeks away, cricket buffs and casual spectators alike are buzzing with excitement for what might come up. Even though this is the last mini-auction before next year's reshuffle, the number of high-profile releases coupled with the talent pool available makes this a very exciting auction.

Keeping that in mind, here are the most important position for each team to strengthen going into the auction in an effort to boost their title challenge.

Chennai Super Kings: Big-hitting overseas fast bowler

CSK would be boosted by a Death Bowler who can tank the ball, maybe a Chris Morris

Having released only 5 players, Chennai Super Kings enter the auction with one of the most well-settled sides in the league. With Ambati Rayadu, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, and Kedar Jadhav as their top 4 with Faf du Plessis and Murali Vijay as cover, they have a very stable top-order.

Additionally, with probably the greatest finisher of the game in the form of MS Dhoni at 5 and with Ravindra Jadeja and Dwane Bravo following at 6 and 7, the Super Kings have one of the most envious batting orders in the league.

On the spin-bowling front, CSK is spoilt for choice with Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell Santner and last year's Purple Cap winner Imran Tahir. This quartet offers them variety, potency as well as the ability to bowl in a variety of situations. On the pace front, the Super Kings have got Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi and Dwayne Bravo. While their Indian pace-bowling core seems well settled, the international contingent needs a bit more potency.

Lungi Ngidi is injury prone and Dwayne Bravo isn't the bowler he used to be. Thus, CSK needs someone who can tonk the ball at 7 if required, as well as bowl at the death.

Possible Options: Chris Morris, Jason Holder, Sam Curran

Delhi Capitals: Overseas batting all-rounder

Delhi need a strong finisher who can give them at least 3 overs, maybe a James Neesham

Building on their success of last year, the Delhi Capitals have been involved in the trade of several players apart from releasing 9, to create a settled Indian core with foreign stars around them.

In Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Ashwin, Delhi has added two seasoned campaigners to their squad who have a wealth of experience to their young line-up. The inclusion of Rahane enables the Delhi Capitals to play a fluid top five, with the duo of Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan opening while Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant floating per the situation of the match.

With Ashwin, they receive a spinner with plenty of variations with a great record in Delhi. He is someone who could wreak havoc at the Kotla, as well as someone who could tonk the ball at 7 or 8. Ashwin, Axar Patel and one of Amit Mishra and Sandeep Lamichhane form a formidable spin trio, with Kagiso Rabada and Ishant Sharma to follow at 10 and 11.

This seemingly strong line-up has a glaring void in the middle. Delhi needs a strong #6 who can finish matches for them as well as give them at least 3 overs each game. Having released both Morris and Rutherford, Delhi has nobody who can occupy the finisher's role whilst also losing a dependable bowler in Morris as well.

While they might be tempted to go back for Morris at a cheaper price (he was retained for INR 11 crores), the Delhi-based franchise has a fair few options in the market to look at.

Possible Options: Chris Morris, James Neesham, Marcus Stoinis, Colin de Grandhomme

Kings XI Punjab: Overseas fast bowler (death over specialist)

Sheldon Cottrell

Having released seven players apart from trading their captain R Ashwin to the Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab (coming in with the largest purse), would be looking to spend wisely in order to try and better their performance from last year.

In KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Mandeep Singh, and Nicholas Pooran, Punjab has a strong top 6, with good back-ups in players like Sarfaraz Khan and Harpreet Brar.

With Krishnappa Gowtham expected to take the all-rounder's position at 7, the Kings XI can rely on him, Jagadeesha Suchith, Mujeeb-ur Rahman and Murugan Ashwin to take care of the spin bowling mantle.

Where this Punjab team needs reinforcements the most at the moment, however, is pace bowling. In Mohammed Shami, they have a pacer who is going through a purple patch in Test cricket. His form with the white ball in the death, however, has been inadequate. Additionally, having released 2018's Purple Cap winner Andrew Tye, they have only got Hardus Viljoen and Arshdeep Singh as the other 2 pace bowling alternatives.

Therefore, a foreign quick who can bowl in the death will be on the top of their priority list.

Possible Options: Sheldon Cottrell, Pat Cummins, Chris Jordan

Kolkata Knight Riders: Overseas top order batsman

Kolkata need someone to provide them with fire at the top order, maybe a Tom Banton

Two-time champs Kolkata Knight Riders find themselves on the cusp of a rejig, having released 10 players, including mainstays like Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, and Piyush Chawla.

Looking at the current set-up, the KKR think-tank seems to have laid their trust in the hands of Shubhman Gill and Sunil Narine to open the innings with a stable middle-order comprising of Nitish Rana, Siddhesh Lad, Dinesh Karthik, and the destructive Andre Russell to follow. This middle order also lends them enough flexibility to float depending on the situation of the game.

The bowling seems to be in good hands as well, with Narine and Kuldeep Yadav taking care of the spin. The pace attack will rely on Lockie Ferguson, and any two of Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Sandeep Warrier and Prasidh Krishna to deliver the goods.

However, KKR lacks a stable #3 to shore the innings post the departure of both Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa. Additionally, the inconsistency of Sunil Narine as an opener might prompt them to get the recruit to open with Gill, bring Rana and Lad to bat at #3 and #4 respectively and push Narine to finish the innings.

With only 3 out of 4 overseas positions taken in their current 11, they will look for a foreign recruit. And while they might look to bring Lynn back at the top, the Kolkata based franchise might be tempted to look at the wealth of options available elsewhere.

Possible Options: Chris Lynn, Tom Banton, Evin Lewis, Aaron Finch, Colin Munro

Mumbai Indians: Middle order batsman

The only issue that Mumbai have right now is a dependable #4, maybe an Eoin Morgan

Last year's champions Mumbai Indians, despite getting rid of 10 players, have a very well settled and fearsome squad. They have gotten rid of their fringe players and have retained and traded to create a fantastic core of players.

In Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock, they have one of the most formidable opening pairs in the league, with Suryakumar Yadav playing the role of an able #3/second opener. With Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya, the team has an explosive finishing combination, with adequate back-up in the form of the recently-traded Sherfane Rutherford.

Their bowling seems to be in good hands too, with Rahul Chahar and Krunal being handed the spin bowling mantle, with Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and any two of Dhawal Kulkarni, Lasith Malinga, Trent Boult, and Mitchell McClenaghan taking care of the pace.

With a squad full of match winners as well as decent back-ups, the one tiny issue that Mumbai have right now is the presence of a dependable #4. Having tried Yuvraj Singh (retired), Siddhesh Lad (traded to KKR) and Ishan Kishan (inconsistent) at this position last year, the Mumbai think-tank might want to look at someone who might be able to play either an anchor or a destroyer for them at #4.

With Pollard and De Kock practically guaranteed to start, they might look at an overseas player in case they play one overseas quick or an Indian alternative if they decide to play 2.

Possible Options: Eoin Morgan, Colin Ingram, Ross Taylor, Dhruv Shorey, Rohan Kadam

Rajasthan Royals: Indian top order batsman

Rajasthan need a dependable top-order batsman who can act as an anchor, maybe a Robin Uthappa

The champions of the inaugural IPL, Rajasthan Royals, see themselves starting this year's auction with one of the smallest squads in the league. With 14 players in their kitty, they seem to have a small but tidy unit, with what is possibly the strongest quartet of international stars with a decent Indian core around them.

Having released Ajinkya Rahane as well as Rahul Tripathi, the Jaipur-based franchise will open with both their keepers, Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler, with captain Steven Smith likely coming in at 3 or 4. With the trio of Ben Stokes, last year's biggest find Riyan Parag and Rahul Tewatia (traded in from Delhi Capitals) likely to finish proceedings for them, Rajasthan seems to have most of their batting in place.

Additionally, new acquisitions Tewatia and Mayank Markande will perfectly compliment Shreyas Gopal in the spin bowling department. Jofra Archer, one of Varun Aaron and recruit Ankit Rajpoot (traded from KXIP) and Ben Stokes will take care of the pace bowling, giving their bowling unit a well-rounded look.

The only issue with their batting order is a top-order batsman who can anchor the innings before the flourish of Ben Stokes. However, with Buttler, Smith, Stokes, and Archer occupying the 4 foreign slots, they will have to find a suitable Indian player to take up the position.

Possible Options: Robin Uthappa, Rahul Tripathi, Dhruv Shorey, Aditya Waghmode

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Overseas fast bowling all-rounder

Bangalore will be on the lookout for a fast bowler, maybe a Sam Curran

Royal Challengers Bangalore released as many as 12 players, retaining only Moeen Ali and AB de Villiers from the international contingent. The release of several high-profile releases will cause Mike Hesson to spend wisely and construct their team around the retained core.

The emergence of Devdutt Padikkal has given them a good alternative in the opening position with Parthiv Patel causing the greatest batsman of our era, Virat Kohli to play in his natural position of #3. With ABD and Moeen, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar occupying positions 4-7, RCB seems to have a very stable middle and lower-middle order.

Reaching positions 8-11, however, is where Bangalore seems to have a chink in the armour. With Yuzuvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav and one of Navdeep Saini or Mohammed Siraj, RCB has a very strong 9-11. At #8, however, Bangalore will require a pacer who can hit the ball cleanly to lend the required balance to their squad.

Possible Options: Sam Curran, Chris Morris, Chris Jordan

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Indian lower-order batsman

Hyderabad need an Indian lower-order batsman, maybe Jalaj Saxena

To round things up, we have one of the most consistent teams in the IPL in terms of performances as well as their coaching set-up. The Sunrisers Hyderabad ended up releasing only 5 players, of which Shakib-al-Hasan was released due to the ban imposed on him.

In David Warner, Jonny Bairstow and Kane Williamson, the Hyderabad-based franchise has what is possibly the strongest top order of the league, with a very able back-up in Wriddhiman Saha. With Vijay Shankar or Mohammed Nabi at 4 and Manish Pandey at 5, SRH have a batting line-up that most teams would envy and bowling line-ups would fear.

Furthermore, with Rashid Khan at 7, followed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shahbaz Nadeem, and two of Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, or Siddharth Kaul, SRH have a very settled core.

The one spot SRH will need to reinforce is their lower middle order. Having released both Yusuf Pathan and Deepak Hooda and with Abhishek Sharma not repaying the faith kept in him when he was traded from Delhi, they will require a #6 batsman to finish proceedings for them. However, with stiff competition for their foreign spots already, it is more likely that they would look for an Indian alternative.

Possible Options: Jalaj Saxena, Himmat Singh, Rohan Kadam