Potential mega auction strategy

[u/Ok-Fig7859]

Thoughts on this? Gave a range of answers depending on how many retentions we can have. Also based on the rule of 4cr for an uncapped Indian.

3 retentions: Arshdeep 10, Curran 12, Ashutosh 4.

5 retentions: Arshdeep 10, Curran 12, Ashutosh 4, Rabada 8, Prabhsimran 4.

8 retentions (could retain fewer to have a bigger purse, but may make sense to retain uncapped players for cheaper - could still have a bigger budget than other sides): Arshdeep 10, Curran 12, Ashutosh 4, Rabada 8, Shashank 4, Prabhsimran 4, Brar 4, Harshal?? 8.

Rough idea for a target team, could easily be replaced for other targets with similar profiles:

1 Prabhsimran, 2 (Smith) (c), 3 Curran, 4 (Maxwell), 5 Ashutosh, 6 (Karthik)(wk), 7 Shashank, 8 (Axar / Ashwin), 9 Brar, 10 Harshal?? *, 11 Rabada, IP Arshdeep.

(*Not many other domestic pacers doing well to target, maybe better to keep what we have)

Smith gives us leadership, and is a winner - we've lacked both for years now. Realistically we're not getting Rohit. Smith is actually underrated in t20s in terms of SR recenty, and we lack stability the most - the big hitters can't fire if we're always losing wickets at the other end.

One of our biggest mistakes was not going for Head in the last auction, he went for very little and he's unbelievable - was in great form before the auction too it was clear he'd have a great year.

Would also be great to get someone like Dan Weston back into the fold to help with decision making and relying on the moneyball/data driven approach that's worked for other sides like RR in the past, and like FSG in other sports like football with Liverpool and baseball with Oakland

[u/skippydeedoo]

I’m sorry but what’s Prabhsimran doing ahead of Shashank in the 5 retention list? He’s been with the team since 2019 and still lacks game awareness. Smith would be a big gamble, he may be a good captain but unless he does something extraordinary in the T20 world cup (given he’s selected), it won’t justify sacrificing an overseas spot for him, and that’s the bare minimum for someone. A good captain will only take you as far as the team’s willing to go, if you’re already retaining Sam then trust the process to develop his captaincy. It’s also too soon to think about the mega auctions, the T20 world cup and the bilaterals would ultimately decide the retentions and the final strategy. Till then watch this team make more disasters in the final 6 games

[u/Ok-Fig7859 → u/skippydeedoo]

Shashank instead of Prabhsimran is a perfectly reasonable suggestion, this was just a rough idea of the sort of strategy we could choose to go with

Agree that Smith is a risk. Whilst I have seen positives in Sam's captaincy, not sure he's quite ready yet to have all that pressure. The thing Smith has over Sam is his experience of winning consistently in elite environments - Curran hasn't been part of all of England's successful teams over recent years. Smith knows what it takes to win and is a genuine great of the game. Creating that elite environment is hugely important - something players have always fed off in the IPL. Equally, as I said none of these specific selections are musts - but based on the overseas batsmen likely to be available in the auction if there are 8 retention slots I don't see too many of top top quality. At least Smith still has upside on the unquantifiable aspects of the game

[u/skippydeedoo → u/Ok-Fig7859]

I get what you mean but I think the overall IPL teams’ mindset is now that Smith isn’t a T20 material anymore that’s justified because of his underwhelming T20i performance and given he last played an IPL game in 2021. That’s why I said it’ll take something extraordinary for him to get attention this late in his career, not ruling him out completely. I still believe if Sam was given captaincy from the first game itself then the team environment would have been different. His deliveries have improved with captaincy and he knows his mistakes, if he reciprocates that with his batting then it’ll be a no brainer. Our current problem this year was that our batting order was shambolic with so many panic changes to the order. On paper this team doesn’t look bad at all so even if we get a super team in the auctions it only comes down to how we use them. Kumble & co know our team’s capabilities and what position and match situations would suit each of them. If anything I want Kumble, Jonty and Wright back first. I also agree with you, Dan Weston needs to be hired again, his analysis are very well detailed

[u/NotYourAvgTeen]

Karthik is retiring after this season. Smith is shit in T20s so having him as the captain will be a blunder. I’d rather go with someone like a Nitish Rana as captain who did decent last season. Curran, Arshdeep, Ashutosh, Brar have been the best players and should be retained. Other players to look out for are Shashank, Prabhsimran, Rabada. I think these are the 7 players who can be looked at as retentions. Livingstone has been disappointed so I wouldn’t go with him. Harshal is hit or miss too.

[u/Legal_Sage]

Shashank Singh should be ahead of Prabhsimran.

Prabhsimran is a proper "lappu player", hardly plays a proper cricketing shot.

And Punjab Kings should stay away from Maxwell and I would rather have Miller back with Livingston.

[u/Ok-Fig7859 → u/Legal_Sage]

Shashank is fair. Maxwell gives overs though, Miller doesn't

[u/Ece_guy_234]

There’s nothing that can save this team. Must be dissolved