PSL 2019: One Indian player who would fit perfectly in each PSL team

The fourth edition of the PSL begins on 14th February in Dubai. The first 26 matches of the tournament would be played in the UAE. The venues for these games will be Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The last eight matches of the tournament including the playoff matches and the final will be played in Pakistan. While the first of the three playoffs will be held in Lahore, the rest along with the final will be hosted by Karachi.

All teams have strengthened their squads in the player draft held in November. While Lahore Qalandars brought in AB De Villiers to strengthen their batting, the Multan Sultans have brought in Andre Russell as an able replacement for Steven Smith who misses out due to an injury.

However, there are still plenty of loopholes that remain in each side. While Indian players haven’t been playing T20 leagues worldwide, it would be great for the cricket fans if the BCCI and the PCB can sort out their differences and allow Indian players to play in the PSL.

Through this article, we will analyze the weakness of each team and how a current Indian player can help fill that void.

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#1 Lahore Qalandars (Jasprit Bumrah)

Jasprit Bumrah can lend balance to Lahore's bowling attack

Lahore Qalandars had a torrid time in the PSL last year and could only muster 3 wins from 10 matches, finishing last on the points table. Lahore have strengthened their batting this year by bringing in A.B De Villiers at the player draft. They also have the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Anton Devcich and Mohammed Hafeez in their ranks to bolster the batting line-up. However, they are short of options in the fast bowling department with Shaheen Afridi being the only reliable option.

Jasprit Bumrah might just be the missing chink in Lahore’s armour. His deadly yorkers and well-disguised slower balls are a treat to watch and often leave the batsmen bamboozled. The Indian star picked up 17 wickets for the Mumbai Indians last year with an economy of less than 7 r.p.o and is among the best death bowlers in the world.

#2 Islamabad United (Rishabh Pant)

Pant can provide the big hits in the middle overs

The defending champions of the PSL have retained the maximum allowed number of players from the previous season. Clearly, they think they have all the bases covered like last year. Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf are quality all-round options while Mohammad Sami is an experienced campaigner. Although they have Luke Ronchi at the top, who was sensational last year, they do not have a batsman at number 4, 5 who can quickly take the game away from the opposition.

India’s rising star Rishabh Pant is an explosive batsman. The diminutive left-hander really packs a punch and has all the shots in his repertoire. He was the second highest run-scorer in the IPL last year and struck a wonderful century against the best attack in the IPL-- the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Pant has immense power in his arms and can clear any boundary rope with ridiculous ease. He might be the solution to Islamabad’s middle order woes.

#3 Quetta Gladiators (Rohit Sharma)

Rohit Sharma and Shane Watson would be one explosive opening combination

Quetta qualified for the playoffs last year but lost out in a closely-fought encounter against the Peshawar Zalmi. They have done some smart business this year by securing deals for Umar Akmal and Sunil Narine from Lahore Qalandars. But the top order batting is still a cause for concern. Shane Watson is most likely to open the batting but lacks a quality partner at the other end as both Ahmed Shehzad and Sunil Narine are highly unreliable. Dwayne Smith is also an opening candidate but has struggled to score consistently in the recent past.

The “Hitman” Rohit Sharma is going through a purple patch in his career and is currently one of the world’s best batsmen. He can adjust according to the conditions on offer and can play the big shots with ease. The stylish right-hander from Mumbai has so much time on his hands and picks up the length of the ball very quickly. Rohit can surely light up the PSL with his explosive batting.

#4 Peshawar Zalmi (Virat Kohli)

King Kohli can be the guiding light of Peshawar's batting

Peshawar Zalmi had a good run in the PSL last year and finished as the runners-up, losing the final to Islamabad United. Peshawar have one of the strongest fast bowling units in the PSL with Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali as the standout names. Chris Jordan is also a handy option in the T20 format. In the batting department, the move to bring in the 44-year-old Misbah-ul-Haq raised a few eyebrows. Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy are not that consistent with the bat these days. Leaving Kamran Akmal aside, there is a serious lack of batting quality among Peshawar's ranks.

Virat Kohli can solve this batting puzzle for Peshawar. Kohli has this remarkable ability to pace his innings according to the situation. He can be the pivot around which Peshawar’s batting can revolve. He can safeguard one end whereas other big hitters like Pollard and Sammy can play their shots from the other end.

#5 Karachi Kings (Kuldeep Yadav)

Kuldeep is a wicket-taking bowler in any format of the game

Karachi Kings finished at the second position on the points table last year but could not make the final as they lost both their matches in the playoffs. Karachi have a solid batting line-up in the form of Babar Azam, Colin Munro, Colin Ingram, Mohammad Rizwan, and Ravi Bopara. The pace bowling department also has adequate depth but they do not have a wicket-taking bowler in the middle overs. Imad Wasim can be a good option in the powerplay but struggles to impact games in the middle overs.

Kuldeep Yadav has proven in the recent past that he can provide the crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs. He has a very well-disguised "wrong one" which is troubling batsmen all over the world. With the pitches in the UAE and Pakistan conducive to spin bowling, Kuldeep can be more than a handful for the opposition batsmen.

#6 Multan Sultans (Ravichandran Ashwin)

Ashwin's experience can come in handy for the Sultans

The Multan Sultans were disappointing last year and finished at the sixth position on the points table. They have a power-packed batting line-up this year and have also brought in Andre Russell as an able replacement for the injured Steve Smith. They have the experience of Shoaib Malik to guide the team home in crunch situations. However, their bowling attack lacks quality spinners with the only experienced option being Shahid Afridi who is well past his prime.

Ravichandran Ashwin can be the spinner that the Multans are missing. Ashwin is an experienced campaigner and can bowl in the powerplay as well. Ashwin is one of the most successful bowlers in the history of IPL and has 110 wickets to his name. He possesses a variety of balls in his repertoire which can cause a lot of trouble to the batsmen on the spinning tracks of UAE.