At the halfway stage of the IPL, it is evident that some of the pre-auction retentions were way off the mark. In this piece, we look at five such calls.
Jos Buttler: In a very surprising move, Rajasthan Royals (RR) let go of Buttler. Whatever may have been the reason, the call was a surprising one. And Buttler has already proved it multiple times this season by standing up for the Gujarat Titans (GT). Yesterday as well, it was another Buttler masterclass that floored top-of-the-table Delhi. The best part about Buttler, one of the best white-ball players ever, is his composure. As Sai Sudharsan had said to me, “He always is in control. Even in tough situations he is never flustered and that’s what makes batting that much easier with him.” Clearly, the Buttler decision is one that has not gone well for RR.
Mitchell Starc: He was one of the key players for KKR in the play-offs last season, and it was his spell that won them the final. There were murmurs when they let him go, and Starc has already won Delhi three games this season, including bowling a fantastic Super Over. Spencer Johnson, brought in to replace Starc, hasn’t fired for KKR and this is one call that has impacted their efforts this season.
Tim David: Much was said about Mumbai Indians (MI) releasing David and opting for Will Jacks. David, however, has been RCB’s batter of the season and, in almost every game, has finished the innings for his team. Even in the last game, it was David who took RCB to respectability and saved them major blushes. David has done much better against spin and, coupled with raw power, has pulverised the bowlers at the end of every innings.
Yuzvendra Chahal: This was one of the calls that had raised a lot of eyebrows at the time of the auction. And at the start of the season, RR may have felt that the decision was justified. But with every game, Chahal is getting better, and against KKR, he almost single-handedly helped Punjab Kings (PBKS) defend a meagre 111. As the tournament gets into the business end, it could well be that Chahal turns out to be Punjab’s go-to man.
Shreyas Iyer: He has been the standout captain of the IPL thus far. Not just in decision-making, but his batting too has been of the very highest calibre. He is one of the key reasons for Punjab making a strong start, as they aim for a play-off spot for only the third time in their history. The defence of a paltry total against KKR highlighted his leadership skills, while his strike-rate of 194.69 is second only to Nicholas Pooran (205.58) among the top-10 highest run-scorers.
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