Excellent article. This time there will be an extra demand for 14 domestic players i.e. 7 each for 2 new franchises in their playing 11. This would put extra pressure on the already small pool of good domestic players.
How do you think it would impact prices as compared to previous auction? Do you think players like Axar would be worth more this time due to smaller supply compared to previous auction?
Personally I think Pant is great value at 16 cr. 2020 was rough for him, and injuries didn't help, but in 2021, I think he's played-and-missed/gotten out while trying to push the Run Rate higher, so while his attack intent is not at his own 2017-19 levels, he isn't quite Kohli or KL Rahul 2019-21 either.
2 factors clinch it for me: 1) The likelihood of his solidified position in Team India (across formats) post-IPL 2020 which could likely give him the license to not risk his India spot with his own proven old method and 2) An unlikely-to-repeat event like Shreyas Iyer's unplanned absence for the first half of the season explaining some of Pant's absorption of the anchoring responsibilities.
On Axar, while I've had loved to see Delhi retain Avesh Khan for 4 crore over him, it wouldn't be unreasonable if Delhi had doubts about his durability/sustainability, when contrasted with an ostensibly 3-dimensional Indian All-rounder. From the eye-test alone, I think he's a capable player of spin, but against pace, he appears to be in the mould of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar - secure at the crease, but essentially reduced to a SR of 100-110. Would you have retained one of Dhawan or Ashwin over him?
Excellent article. This time there will be an extra demand for 14 domestic players i.e. 7 each for 2 new franchises in their playing 11. This would put extra pressure on the already small pool of good domestic players.
How do you think it would impact prices as compared to previous auction? Do you think players like Axar would be worth more this time due to smaller supply compared to previous auction?
Personally I think Pant is great value at 16 cr. 2020 was rough for him, and injuries didn't help, but in 2021, I think he's played-and-missed/gotten out while trying to push the Run Rate higher, so while his attack intent is not at his own 2017-19 levels, he isn't quite Kohli or KL Rahul 2019-21 either.
2 factors clinch it for me: 1) The likelihood of his solidified position in Team India (across formats) post-IPL 2020 which could likely give him the license to not risk his India spot with his own proven old method and 2) An unlikely-to-repeat event like Shreyas Iyer's unplanned absence for the first half of the season explaining some of Pant's absorption of the anchoring responsibilities.
On Axar, while I've had loved to see Delhi retain Avesh Khan for 4 crore over him, it wouldn't be unreasonable if Delhi had doubts about his durability/sustainability, when contrasted with an ostensibly 3-dimensional Indian All-rounder. From the eye-test alone, I think he's a capable player of spin, but against pace, he appears to be in the mould of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar - secure at the crease, but essentially reduced to a SR of 100-110. Would you have retained one of Dhawan or Ashwin over him?
Can't agree more on Pant and Axar. It will be an interesting auction :)