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IPL 2021 Auction: The IPL Auctions are as lucrative and enticing to the fans as much as the game itself. The auction of 2021 is just a few days away, and franchises will have their permutations and combinations in place by now.
With all the buzz of the upcoming auctions looming around us, we roll-out the 5 most anticipated players who expected to be picked up by Rajasthan Royals on February 18th in Chennai and whose auction results will be most awaited.
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan will undoubtedly be one of the most in-demand players at the auction, and Rajasthan Royals will be one of the favorites to buy him, given the fact that they have the 2nd biggest purse. Shakib predominantly bats in the top 4 and can bowl during any game stage, which makes him a precious player.
He would be an excellent replacement for Steve Smith, and the 33-year-old would also strengthen the bowling side of things, and Rajasthan Royals can solve 2 issues with the same player. He will also allow Rajasthan Royals (RR) to replace Stokes with a batsman instead of another all-rounder if he is injured or unavailable due to any reason.
Ben McDermott
Having released Steve Smith, the Royals will be in the market for an overseas batsman who can bat at either 3 or 4. McDermott perfectly fits the bill as he generally bats in those positions. If Rajasthan Royals buys him and includes him in the XI, a potential top 4 of Buttler, Stokes, Samson, and McDermott looks good and tear apart any bowling attack on their day.
He has 1660 runs in 73 games at a strike rate of 130.7, and his average of 31.32 reflects the consistency he has added to his game in recent times. The 26-year-old was one of the best performers in the BBL this season and scored 402 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of nearly 140.
Riely Meredith
Jofra Archer received minimal support from the other bowlers, and he was the only one who picked up more than 10 wickets for Rajasthan Royals (RR) last season. Their supporting pacers other than Kartic have been quite disappointing, and they need to find a better partner for him. Riely Meredith and Archer’s bowling partnership at 145+ kph would be a nightmare for opposition batsmen. The Aussie quick’s arrival would ease the burden on the Englishman.
Riely Meredith has picked up 43 wickets in 34 matches at a strike rate of 17.5, and his economy rate of 8.08 is excellent for someone who operates during the difficult overs. The Hobart Hurricanes star got 16 wickets in 13 games this BBL and conceded at less than 8.
James Neesham
English players have often been unavailable for the last few games of the season, and there is a chance that Stokes could leave before the end of the season. Going into the season without a 2nd all-rounder might disturb their balance later on, and thus buying someone like James Neesham would be important for them.
James Neesham was in pretty good form during the Super Smash, picking up 8 wickets and scoring 65 runs in 5 games. He has scored 1903 runs in 136 T20s at a strike rate of 137.1 and averages 25.71. With the ball in hand, he has 126 wickets to his name at an impressive strike rate of 16.8.
Jhye Richardson
Jhye Richardson would provide Archer with excellent support, and Rajasthan Royals (RR) should go all out for him as he would give their bowling attack a much-needed boost. Their bowling has let them down several times, and buying someone as good as the Australian to compliment Archer will be their No. 1 priority.
Jhye has picked up 78 wickets in 61 games at a strike rate of 17.5 and conceded at just 7.81. The Perth Scorchers bowler has picked up 27 wickets in 16 games this BBL at a phenomenal strike rate of 12.7, and his excellent form has been a major driving force behind his team’s run to the final.
