Analysis
5 Teams that can target Shardul Thakur in IPL Auctions 2024
The 17th edition of the IPL 2024 is set to be one of the biggest mini auctions ever. A total of 1166 players have registered their names to take part in the auctions, which is huge, considering only a handful of them are going to be picked by the franchises for the limited number of slots available. Only 590 players will be selected to go under the hammer. Other players in the fore might not even be considered eligible to take part in the auctions, let alone getting picked by a franchise.
That’s how competitive the league is. It attracts a lot of players who are skilful enough to represent many top teams in the world. Ahead of the big auctions for IPL 2024, many teams have released some of their players, who might not be useful for them as per their team balance. Such players could be useful for other teams, who might help provide the required balance. Shardul Thakur is one such player, who is available in the auctions and can bring the balance for the sides.
Here are five Teams that can target the Indian bowling All-rounder in the auctions of the IPL 2024.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH (Source: Twitter)
Sunrisers Hyderabad did not have a great campaign in the IPL 2023. The Hyderabad-based franchise not just performed poorly in the tournament, but also ended up with a wooden spoon in the season. Many of their players were out of form. Right from the start to the end, their players were not in form. At the top, Mayank Agarwal and Rahul Tripathi failed to score runs. Abhishek Sharma was inconsistent. Harry Brook, Abdul Samad, and Washington Sundar were not great either.
Aiden Markram was inconsistent as well. Heinrich Klaasen carried their batting throughout the season. With the ball, Mayank Markande and Bhuvneshwar Kumar carried their bowling, as the likes of Marco Jansen, Sundar, Farooqi, Umran Malik, and others struggled with their bowling. While SRH would be looking at getting their batting right, they would also have to get their bowling right. Shardul is one of those capped Indian cricketers who can provide balance in both regards.
4. Mumbai Indians
MI (Source: Twitter)
Mumbai Indians had a roller coaster journey in the IPL 2023. In the first 5 matches of the season, they had won only 2 matches and looked in trouble. After that, their batters fired well and helped in the revival of their campaign. Eventually, they were able to make it to the playoffs of the season and went on to finish third in the season, despite getting hardly any support from their bowlers. For MI, batting is not an issue at all, as they have some world-class batters.
With the addition of Hardik Pandya, they have strengthened their batting a lot more. In the IPL 2023, key bowlers like Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah were missed by them. Ahead of the IPL 2024, Mumbai released Archer and will have their star pacer Bumrah back. But it does not solve all their problems with the ball. In the middle overs phase, MI need a wicket-taking option. Shardul might just be the right option to fill the role with his uncanny abilities to take wickets.
3. Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR (Source: Twitter)
Kolkata Knight Riders did not have that good a season in the IPL 2023. In the first three matches of the season, KKR looked like a threatening team. After that, teams found a way to overcome them with their tactics. KKR’s bowling outside their spin bowling was exposed. The likes of Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, and others could not fill the role of the lead pacers well. In the middle of the season, Vaibhav Arora and Harshith Rana were asked to take up the responsibilities.
The youngsters did a pretty good job in handling the bowling in the last 3-4 matches of the season. But they could not perform as well at the death as one would have expected. The attack of KKR also had Shardul Thakur, who could not perform well. As a result, Shardul was released for IPL 2024. But KKR might buy him back at the auctions if he does not have demand for himself as he had during the IPL 2023, which could help them to solve their issue in the balance.
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB (Source: Twitter)
Royal Challengers Bangalore might be one of those franchises thinking of buying Shardul for the 17th edition of the league. Reports claimed that the franchise was interested in trading Harshal Patel to KKR to get Shardul in exchange. As it turned out, the trade did not happen. But that might not stop them from getting him in the auctions, where all the teams with enough purses can go behind him. RCB has enough purse to purchase Thakur for the IPL 2024.
RCB lacked the bowlers who could assist Mohammed Siraj in the IPL 2023. It was one of the biggest issues behind their failure in the season to qualify for the playoffs, despite the incredible form of their top 3 batters. Shardul might be helpful for RCB, given his wicket-taking abilities across various phases of the game. Shardul can be handy at the death with his variation of pace, cutters, and slower ones. Not to forget, he could be useful with the bat as well.
1. Chennai Super Kings
CSK (Source: Twitter)
Chennai Super Kings is the franchise that can most likely target the Indian All-rounder during the auctions of the IPL 2024. Without a doubt, Shardul’s best time in the IPL came while playing for CSK. It benefited the South Indian franchise as well, as they got an incredible performer who contributed in more than one way to the team. In the IPL 2018 and 2021, Shardul played a key role in helping CSK to win the title. CSK know how to make the best use of him.
Thakur played an impactful cameo in the qualifier 1 of the IPL 2018 and led the comeback of the side in the final of the IPL 2021 with his bowling. Shardul is a proven performer at the highest level. Many times, he has unfoxed the best batters in the world with his wicket-taking abilities. CSK’s home ground, MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, has a lot of assistance for the bowlers who could change pace. Shardul is capable of doing that well.
