The IPL 2024 Auction concluded with a flurry of intense bidding wars and strategic team selections. Among the franchises, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Mumbai Indians (MI) emerged as the top performers.
These 3 IPL teams made most crucial acquisitions to strengthen their squads further for the upcoming Indian Premier League season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Travis Head (INR 6.8 crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (INR 1.5 crore), Pat Cummins (INR 20.5 crore), Jaydev Unadkat (INR 1.6 crore), Akash Singh (INR 20 lakh), Jhathavedh Subramanyan (INR 20 lakh).
The Wins: Sunrisers Hyderabad made a statement with a hefty bid for Pat Cummins at INR 20.5 crore, reinforcing their pace attack. Wanindu Hasaranga’s acquisition at his base price added value, and Travis Head became another significant addition with his explosive batting.
The Misses: While building a formidable squad, Sunrisers might have considered securing a backup for Abdul Samad.
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Gerald Coetzee (INR 5 crore), Nuwan Thushara (INR 4.8 crore), Dilshan Madushanka (INR 4.6 crore), Mohammad Nabi (INR 1.5 crore), Shreyas Gopal (INR 20 lakh), Naman Dhir (INR 20 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (INR 20 lakh), Shivalik Sharma (INR 20 lakh).
The Wins: Mumbai Indians focused on strengthening their pace battery, securing Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka, and Nuwan Thushara. The addition of Shreyas Gopal provided depth to their spin department.
The Misses: In hindsight, considering the possible playing XI combinations, Mumbai Indians might regret not bidding for Wanindu Hasaranga.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Shivam Mavi (INR 6.4 crore), M Siddharth (INR 2.4 crore), David Willey (INR 2 crore), Ashton Turner (INR 1 crore), Arshin Kulkarni (INR 20 lakh), Arshad Khan (INR 20 lakh).
The Wins: Lucknow Super Giants secured a pre-auction trade for Devdutt Padikkal, adding a strong opener to their lineup. M Siddharth’s inclusion at IPL 2024 Auction provided valuable spin support.
The Losses: The team may face challenges in the middle order with a lack of experienced Indian batters, potentially altering KL Rahul’s batting position.
As the teams gear up for IPL 2024, these strategic moves in the auction have set the stage for an exciting and competitive season ahead. Each franchise has aimed to address key areas and assemble a balanced squad capable of navigating the challenges of T20 cricket.
